Memoirs and observations typographical, physical, mathematical, mechanical, natural, civil, and ecclesiastical, made in a late journey through the empire of China, and published in several letters particularly upon the Chinese pottery and varnishing, the silk and other manufactures, the pearl fishing, the history of plants and animals, description of their cities and publick works, number of people, their language, manners and commerce, their habits, oeconomy, and government, the philosophy of Confucius, the state of Christianity : with many other curious and useful remarks / by Louis Le Compte ... ; translated from the Paris edition, and illustrated with figures.

LETTER II. To her Highness the Dutchess of NEMOURS.

The Manner of our Reception by the Em∣peror, and what we observed at Pekin.

MADAM,

NONE but a Lady of an unbounded Genius and an unlimited Zeal, could, as you do, concern her self in what passes at so great a Distance. The Curiosities of Europe were too few for your vast Mind, which would be a Stranger to nothing that might Inform or Edifie it, and I may without Flattery say, that the East has no Secrets you have not pried into, nor any Rarities you are unac∣quainted with.

I have my self learned from your Highness several things unknown to most Travellers, and having been as far as the World reaches, must confess that your Knowledge has travelled farther yet than me.

What then, Madam, can I tell you of China more than you already have discover'd, unless it be some Particulars of my Voyage, which, being the latest any European has made thither, cannot want the Charms of Novelty? It being my Duty to give a a Great States-man an Account of it, I make bold

to send your Highness the Letter I wrote to him some days since; and what I now add, shall at once be a Continuation of it, and a Token of the Respect I bear you, and the Readiness I shall ever be in, to o∣bey your Highness's Commands.

On our Arrival at Pekin, we found the Court in Mourning for the Empress Dowager: The Courts of Justice were shut up, and the Emperor gave no Audience. But the 27 Days being spent, during which the Laws obliged him to remain Solitary, he sent one of his Officers to our House, to see how we did, and put some Questions to us. The Mes∣sage was very obliging, and besides a thousand o∣ther Civilities, we were told the Emperor would be no less kind to us than he had been to the Fa∣thers at his Court, since we were all of the same Society.

The Gentleman told us his Imperial Majesty would gladly know what the French Court thought of his Progress into Tartary, and the Defeat of Ousan∣guay, (who was a Chinese Rebel that had given him no small Trouble). He asked us in what Perfection Learning was in Europe, whether any new Inventi∣on had lately made been, or any considerable Dis∣covery. Then he spoke much of the Honours the Emperor designed to pay to the Memory of Father Verbiest, for whom his Majesty had a particular af∣fection. That Name, Madam, cannot be un∣known to you, and you are too much concern'd, in what relates to the Eastern Church, to be ig∣norant of her Loss in that Illustrious Missonary's Death.

We all replyed that we gratefully acknowledged the Emperor's Bounty, but that among the Ceremo∣nies with which the Chinese used to express their Re∣spect for their deceased Friends, there were some which seemed to disagree with the Sanctity of our

Religion. How! answered he, Do you oppose the ••mperor's Will? To this a Father returned, My Lord, Our Lives are the Emperor's, he may take them away when he pleases, but nothing in the World is able to make us alt••r the least tittle of our Belief. My Orders, said he, are not to dispute it with you, but to ask you for the Petition, which, according to Custom, you are to present to him upon this Occasion. The Emperor, by an unpresidented Goodness, would gladly peruse and correct it himself, if it should need any amendment: but he commands you to keep this Favour secret.

All that is presented to the Emperor, ought to be indited in Terms so nicely conformable to the Laws and Customs of the Country, to his Quality who speaks, and to the Business he treats of, that the Penning of it is no little trouble, especially for a Stranger. An improper Expression, a Word, nay a Letter misplaced, is sufficient to undo a Manda∣rine, and several have lost their Places for being Guilty of the like Faults, whether thro' Inadverten∣cy or Ignorance. The Emperor, well skill'd in all these Formalities, questioned our Capacity in that respect, and would trust no body but himself; so that by an incredible Goodness he took the pains to compose it, that it might stand the most Critical Ex∣amination.

Some days after the same Gentleman came with several new Queries. He inquired particularly into the Motives of the late Dutch War, and into the famous Passage of the R••ine. For in truth, said he, what has been told the Emperor is not to be be∣lieved. Perhaps the River is neither so broad, so deep, nor so rapid as is reported; and that as for the Dutch▪ they had some private Reasons not to oppose your King's Conquests with more vigour.

Then, Madam, did we wish for a more perfect Knowledge of his Language, that we might repre∣sent to him the Great Soul, the Good Fortune, and the unshaken Valour of Lewis the Great, to whose Soldiers nothing is impossible while they fight in his View, and are animated by his Example. The Father, who was our Interpreter, told him however as much as would perswade him, that none but such a Hero could frame and carry on the like Enter∣prises: He was astonished at our Recital of them, and rose immediately to go and report it to his Prince.

As he was going out he turned to us, saying, Gentlemen, All I have heard is indeed wonderful, but what my Eyes behold seems no less surprising: Who could think that these Fathers who have dwelt here so long, who are of a different Nation, and never saw you before, should look on you as their Brethren; that you should treat them like yours, and that you should be as kind to each other, as if you had been acquainted all your Lives. I really am extreamly taken with this Charity, and can no longer doubt the truth of what you profess. So open a Confession might give us some hopes that He was not far from the Kingdom of God: It is true he believed, but alas, of what use is that Be∣lief, when we have not the Courage to Act accord∣ingly, but to inhance our Guilt?

If we had come thither Incognito the Mandarines would have had nothing to say to us; but it be∣ing in pursuance of an Order from the Lipon, which, as I have already hinted, is one of the most noted Courts of Justice in the Empire, the Viceroy of the Province we came from remitted us into their Hands, and we were, according to Custom, to be delivered up by them to their Sovereign. So as soon as the Mourning ended, and they had leave to sit, we were Summon'd before them, with Or∣ders

to carry thither all our Mathematical Machines and Instruments, of which they already had an In∣ventory.

The Emperor, who would not have us do any thing without his Advice, was acquainted with it, and sent us word it was not fitting we should shew our Instruments, and that we might, if we thought fit, decline making a Personal Appearance. We went thither however, being several times invited in a most obliging manner, and not judging it con∣venient by a blunt Refusal to offend so considerable a Body, which besides was our Judge, and already but too great an Enemy to our Religion.

Some Mandarines deputed by their President to that effect, made us a very Civil Reception: They desired us to sit down, and presented us some Tea before they had drunk any themselves; a Respect they do not pay even to Ambassadours, as Father Pereira, a Portuguese, assured us, who had been pre∣sent at an Audience they had lately given to those of Portugal.

This Visit was indeed but for Form's sake, to the end they might inform the Emperor of our being safely arrived to Town, according to his Majesty's Commands. So that after some Complements on each side, we were desired to attend the next day at the Palace, when they would discharge us.

We went thither accordingly at the appointed time, and having staid during some hours in a large Court, where the Mandarines usually wait who have any business there; their P••esident, or Chief Justice, b••ought us the Answer to an Address he had according ••o Custom presented on ••ur Account. This Answer was written on a sm••ll varnished B••••rd, wrapped up in a piece of yellow Taffety: The Contents were, That we might use ••ur Instru∣ments, and settle in what part of the Empire we pleased,

according to the first Orders from Court, when we were sent for thither. And that in the mean while, the Lipou might deliver us up to the other Fathers, who were to in∣troduce us into the Emperor's Presence, when his Majesty should think fit.

Yet that Prince's Intentions were not that we should leave Pekin; but on the contrary, he would have kept us all there, and lodg'd us in his Palace. He had expressed himself so clearly on that Point, that we had need of all the Interest and Dexterity of Father Pereira, to divert the Storm. That Father, who was then Superiour of all the Missionary's, moved with Compassion at so many Vineyards being ruined for want of Husbandmen, judged we might be more useful in the Country. He knew besides what an aversion we had to a Courtier's Life, which our continual Complaints against it could not let him be ignorant of. These and several other Rea∣sons induced him to intreat the Emperor that he would not oppose it, and his Zeal inspired him with such effectual Methods, that the good Prince at last consented: But, said he, it shall be on conditi∣on we divide the Spoil; ••••le take two at your choice, and you shall dispose of the other three; What can you say a∣gainst this, I quit you the better half?

We had not yet had the Honour to attend his Im∣perial Majesty, for the Formalities I last mentioned were to precede our Audience: But the Lipou had scarce delivered up their Charge, when two Eu∣nuchs came to the Colledge, to warn the Superi∣our that he should attend with his Brethren in a Court of the Palace which was appointed. We were instructed in the Ceremonies usual on such Occasions, which was done with little Trouble, being already half lickt into a Chinese form.

First then, We were carried in Chairs to the first Gate, whence we went on foot thro' eight Courts of a prodigious length, built round with Lodgings different in Architecture, but all very ordinary, ex∣cept those large square Buildings over the Arches thro' which we passed from one Court to another. Those indeed were stately, being of an extraordina∣ry thickness, and proportionable in breadth and heighth, and built with fair white Marble, but which was worn rough thro' age. Thro' one of these Courts ran a small Rivulet, over which were laid several little Bridges of the same Marble, but of a whiter Colour and better Workmanship.

It were hard, Madam, to descend into Particulars, and give you a pleasing Description of that Palace, because its Beauty does not consist so much in being composed of several curious Pieces of Architecture, as in a prodigious quantity of Buildings, and an in∣finite number of adjoyning Courts and Gardens which are all regularly disposed, and in the whole make up a Palace really Great and Worthy of the Monarch who inhabits it.

The only thing which surprised me, and seemed singular in its kind, is the Emperor's Throne. The best Description of it, which my Memory will af∣ford me, is this: In the midst of one of those great Courts stands a square Basis or solid Building of an extraordinay bigness, whose top is adorned with a Balustrade, much after our fashion; this supports a∣nother like unto it, but framed Taper-wise, over which are placed three more, still loosing in bulk as they gain in heighth. Upon the uppermost is built a large Hall, whose Roof being covered with gilt Tiles, is borne by the four Walls, and as many rows of varnished Pillars, between which is seated the Throne.

[illustration]

The Throne of the Emperour of China▪ Scituated, in the Middle of the Greatest Court of his Pallace •• and raised vpon five bases of White Marble.

[illustration]

These vast Bases, with their Balustrades made of white Marble, and thus disposed Amphitheater-wise, which when the Sun shines seem covered with a Pa∣lace glistering with Gold and Varnish, make, indeed, a glorious show, considering too, that they are thus placed in the midst of a spacious Court, and sur∣rounded by four stately rows of Building: So that were its Beauty inhanced by the Ornaments of our Modern Architecture, and by that Noble Simplicity which is so much valued in our Buildings, it would doubtless be as magnificent a Throne as ever was rais∣ed by Art.

After a quarter of an hours walk, we at length came to the Emperor's Apartment. The Entrance was not very splendid, but the Anti-Chamber was adorned with Sculptures, Gildings and Marble, whose Neatness and Workmanship were more va∣luable than the Richness of the Stuff. As for the Presence Chamber, the second Mourning not being over, it was still disrobed of all its Ornaments, and could boast of none but the Sovereign's Person, who sate after the Tartar's Custom on a Table or Sopha raised three Feet from the Ground, and covered with a plain white Carpet, which took up the whole breadth of the Room. There lay by him some Books, Ink and Pencils; he was cloathed with a black Satin Vest furred with Sable; and a row of young Eunuchs plainly habited, and unarmed, stood on each Hand close legged, and with their Arms ex∣tended downwards along their sides; which is looked upon there as the most respectful Posture.

In that State, the most modest that even a Private Man could have appeared in, did he chuse to be seen by us, desiring we should observe his Dutifulness to the Empress his departed Mother, and the Grief he conceived at her Death, rather than the State and Grandeur he is usually attended with.

Being come to the Door, we hastned with no little speed (for such is the Custom) till we came to an end of the Chamber opposite to the Emperor. Then all abreast we stood a moment in the same Posture the Eunuchs were in.

Next we fell on our Knees, and having joyned our Hands, and lifted them up to our Heads, so that our Arms and Elbows were at the same heighth, we bowed thrice to the Ground, and then stood again as before: The same Prostration was repeated a second time, and again a third, when we were or∣dered to come forward, and kneel before his Ma∣jesty.

The Good-natur'd Prince, whose Mildness I can∣not enough admire, having enquired of us of the Grandeur and present State of France, the Length and Dangers of our Voyage, and the Manner of our Treatment by the Mandarines; Well, said he, see if I can add any new Favour to those I have already con∣ferred upon you. Is there any thing you would desire of me? you may freely ask it. We returned him humble Thanks, and begged he would permit us, as a Token of our sincere Gratitude, to lift up each day of our Lives our Hands to Heaven, to procure to his Royal Person, and to his Empire, the Blessing of the True God, who alone can make Princes really happy.

He seemed well satisfied with our Answer, and permitted us to withdraw, which is performed with∣out any Ceremony. The great Respect and Dread which the Presence of the most Potent Monarch in Asia inspired us with, did not yet awe us so far, but that we took a full view of his Person. Indeed, least our too great Freedom herein should prove a Crime, (for in what concerns the Emperor of Chi∣na, the least Mistake is such,) we had first obtained his Leave.

He was something above the middle Stature, more Corpulent than an European Beau, yet somewhat more Slender than a Chinese would wish to be; full Visaged, Dis••igured with the Small Pox, had a broad Forehead, little Eyes, and a small Nose after the Chi∣nese fashion; his Mouth was well made, and the lower part of his Face very agreeable. In fine, tho' he bears no great Majesty in his Looks, yet they shew abundance of Good Nature, and his Ways and Action have something of the Prince in them, and shew him to be such.

From his Apartment we went into another, where a Mandarine treated us with Tea, and presented us as from the Emperor, with about a hundred Pistols. The Gift seemed but Mean, considering whom it came from, but was very Considerable in respect to the Custom of China, where it is the Maxim of all Great Persons to take as much, and give as little as they can. On the other hand he loaded us with Ho∣nours, and ordered one of his Officers to wait on us to our House.

I confess, Madam, that a Man must be wholly in∣sensible to all the Concerns of this World, not to be moved with a secret Complacency, at the having such Respect paid him by one of the mightiest Prin∣ces in the World. But one must not judge of us on that account, by what is usual with the Men of this World in the like Occasions.

The truest Cause of the Pleasure we receive from the Favour of Princes, is Self-Interest. It is well known that their Caresses are ever beneficial, and a Courtier would never be so over-joyful at a kind Look or Expression from his King, if he did not expect some more solid Bounties would follow: But as for us, whom our Vows and Missions forbid to have such hopes, we look unconcernedly on all this World, and especially that Part of it, can do to elevate us.

It is true, God is sometimes well pleased to see Religion respected in the Persons of his Ministers: That he often uses those Methods to strengthen the Faith of New Converts, who need such Natural Supports to fortifie them against Trials and Tempta∣tions; and that it breeds even in the Gentiles a Disposition to embrace Christianity. These Thoughts indeed made us take more Delight in those Tokens of the Emperor's Favour, or to speak more properly, made us find them less disagreeable.

Your Highness is, perhaps, astonished to see the Sovereign of an Idolatrous Nation, so openly coun∣tenance our Religion, and would gladly know what Motives had induced him to it. His Kindness for such Strangers as we, proceeds, doubtless, from the great Esteem he has long since had for the Missiona∣ries at Pekin. Besides the Commendation of their Learning, he has always found them Sincere, Honest, very Zealous and Affectionate to him, ever ready to obey his Will, where their Faith did not forbid them, Harmless to a Degree, he never could give over admi∣ring, and ever desirous to proclaim the True God.

He is above all so well perswaded that this is the sole End of all their Enterprises, that he takes a se∣cret Delight in contributing to the Propagation of the Faith, thinking he can no other way better Re∣compense these Fathers earnestness in his Service.

And so Father Verbiest, on his Death-Bed wrote a Letter to him, in part of which he thus expressed himself; Dread Sir, I die contented, in that I have spent almost all my Life in your Majesties Service; But I beg your Majesty will be pleased to remember when I am dead, that my Only Aim, in what I did, was, to gain in the greatest Monarch of the East, a Protector to the most Holy Religion of the World.

Perhaps, Madam, you may have seen certain Li∣bels, (for I know not what to call them else) which represent our Society as a sort of Men possessed with Avarice and Ambition, who undertake these Long and Painful Travels, only to enrich themselves by a Sacrilegious and Scandalous Traffick. Your High∣ness might have expected that Calumny, (the inse∣parable Companion of a Spirit of Sedition and He∣resie) not satisfied with Persecuting our Religion in Europe, should come even to the utmost Parts of the World, to slander those who endeavour to settle it there, as pure as we received it from our Forefathers; and you will not be sorry to hear, how That very Ido∣latry which we destroy, cannot forbear witnessing our good Intentions, and that if China saw what Pi∣ctures are drawn here of her Missionaries, she would hardly know them. But it is not before your High∣ness they need an Advocate.

Among the several things which happened then at Pekin, nothing was more Doleful, and at once more Honourable to us, than the Funeral of Father Ver∣beist, which his Imperial Majesty had ordered to be put off till the last Devoirs had been paid the Em∣press Dowager. Father Thomas a Jesuit, has descri∣bed this Ceremony at large. I dare hope an Extract of what he has wrote will not be unwelcome to you both because it will give you some insight into their Customs on the like Occasions, and that you will thereby grow better acquainted with a Man whom his Merit has made known to all the World. Be pleas∣ed then to accept of it as follows.

It seemed good to Divine Wisdom, to take to himself from this Mortal Life, Father Ferd••nando Ver∣biest, a Fleming, and to bestow on him the Recom∣pence of Saints. Our Missionaries Affliction may not easily be expressed, but much harder would it be

to reckon by how many Exemplary Vertues, and Considerable Services he has merited their Esteem and Gratitude.

Besides several other good Qualities, the Greatness of his Soul is particularly to be admired, which has never failed him in the most Cruel Persecutions, so that he was ever Triumphant over the Enemies of the Faith. The Survey of the Mathematicks was at first proffered him, which Dignity he accepted of, in hopes it would enable him to set on foot our Missions, which were then wholly laid aside.

He did, indeed, obtain a Toleration for Evange∣lical Pastours, who after a long Banishment had their Churches restored them. He sti••••ed some Per∣secutions in their Birth, and others he prevented, which threatned the tender Flocks. The Mandarines no sooner knew him, but they had a Respect for him, and the Emperor entertained so Good an O∣pinion of his Capacity, that he kept him above a quarter of a Year near his Person, and during that time, spent three or four hours every day with him in private, discoursing of several Sciences, especially Mathematicks.

In these Conversations, our Zealous Missionary endeavoured to bring him into a Liking of our Re∣ligion: He would explain to him its most stupen∣dious Mysteries, and made him observe its Holiness, its Truth, and Necessity; insomuch that the Empe∣ror, struck with his powerful Arguments, often own∣ed that he believed a God: He assured him of it by a Writing under his Majesty's own Hand, wherein he said among other things, That all the Religions of hi•• Empire seemed to him Vain and Superstitious, that the Idols were nothing, and that he foresaw Christianity would one day be built on their Ruins. A Chinese Doctor having in one of his Books taken the liberty to place the Emperor's Religion among the several Heresies

China was infected with; the Emperor upon the Fa∣ther's Complaint, struck out those Lines himself, telling him all the Empire should know what he had done.

Father Verbiest's Interest was such, that at his In∣stigation the old Instruments which stood on the Platform of the Observatory were pulled down, to make room for new ones of his Contriving. He gave Directions for the casting of Brass-Guns, which saved the States from Ruin. He applyed himself to several other Works, to serve the Publick, or satisfie the Emperor's Curiosity; and one may say, that on this last account, he has searched into the most rare and and ingenious Inventions, that Arts and Scien∣ces have ever offered us.

The whole Court looked upon him as the Wisest man of his Age, but, above all, was charmed with his Modesty. It is true, no Man ever was more Mild and Tractable than he; humbling himself be∣fore every one, while every one strove to Exalt him; Insensible to all the Things of this World, except where Religion was concerned; for then he was no more the same Man, and as tho' he had been anima∣ted by a new Spirit, his Looks, his Words, his Acti∣ons, all were Great, and becoming a Christian He∣ro. The very Emperor dreaded him at such times, and was not easily perswaded to admit him into his Presence; He will fly out, would he say, into some un∣decency, which I must be forced, tho' unwillingly, to re∣sent.

This holy Boldness proceeded from a lively Faith, and a great Confidence in God. He despaired of nothing, though humanly impossible; and would often say, We must never forget two of the Chief Max∣ims of Christian Morality: First, That let our Projects be never so well laid, they will certainly fall, if God leaves us to our own Wisdom. Secondly, That it were in vain

the whole Universe should arm it self to destroy the Work of God; nothing is Powerful against the Almighty, and every thing Prospe••s that Heaven approves of. So he never entered on any Enterprise without imploring its help, tho' however he left no Means untried that Reason and Christian Prudence offered him.

Thus did his Zeal each day increase in Strength and Purity: The Establishment of our Faith whol∣ly employed his Thoughts, and whatever Occupati∣on else he was put upon, proved a Torment to him. He avoided all idle Visits and Conversations, and could not endure to see People study only for Cu∣riosities sake: He never so much as read the News that came from Europe, which at such a Distance we are usually so greedy of; only he would hear the Chief Heads, provided you would speak them in a few words. He would spend whole Days and Nights in writing Letters of Consolation, Instruction or Re∣commendation for the Missionaries; in composing di∣vers Works for the Emperor or Chief Lords at his Court; and in Compiling the Kalendar, Calculating with an indefatigable Industry, the Motion of the Stars for every Year.

This and the Care of all the Churches, so impaired his Strength, that in spight of the Strength of his Constitution, he fell at last into a kind of Consump∣tion, which yet did not hinder his framing great Designs for the Advancement of his Religion. He had taken such exact Measures for the settling of it in the most remote Parts of China, in the Eastern Tar∣tary, and even in the Kingdom of Kovia; that no∣thing but his Death could have prevented the Execu∣tion of so well contrived a Project.

Let us view him now in Private. At his first Admit∣tance into our Order he was a true Monk, strict in the Performance of its Rules, very observant to his Superiours, and loving Study and Retirement above

all things, which he persisted in, even among the multitude of Business, in the midst of which he would be as Sedate as a Hermit in his Cell.

His Conscience was Nice to Extremity, so that no Man could take more Care than he did to be always ready to make his Appearance before him who can espy Faults even in Saints and Angels. To preserve his Innocence, he never went out without a severe Cilice or an Iron Chain, and used to say, It was a shame for a Jesuit to be clothed in Silks, and in the Livery of the World, and not to wear the Livery of Christ.

His Soul was naturally great, and when others Necessities wanted a Supply, his Charity was bound∣less. But he was hard-hearted to himself, courting Poverty even in Plenty to that degree, that the Em∣peror, who took great Notice of him, often sent him Stuff with express Orders to wear it, and be more Sumptuous in his Apparel. His Bed, Table, and Furniture were indeed too mean for a Mandarine; but he ever preferred his Station in the Church be∣fore that in the State. He has often protested, He would never have accepted of that Office, had he not hoped by seeming to the Gentiles the Head of the Christians, to have thereby born all their Envy, and been the most exposed to their Malice, and the first Sacrificed in case of Persecution.

This Hope made him be satisfied with his Condi∣tion, and his Writings expressed so ardent desire of Dying for Iesus Christ, that nothing but Martyrdom was wanting to his being a Martyr; yet he might in some measure be reckon'd such, since he begged it of God with that Groaning in Spirit, which is a conti∣nual Suffering to those that cannot obtain it, Reckon me, O Lord, did he often cry out, among those who have desired, but never could shed their Blood for thee. I have, indeed, neither their Innocency, their Vertue, nor their Cou∣rage,

but thou may'st apply their Merits to me, and (which will make me much more agreeable in thy sight) thou canst cloath me with thine own. Under that V••••l of thine Infi∣nite Mercy, I dare offer my Life as a Sacrifice to thee. I have been so happy as to Confess thy Holy Name among the People, at Court, before the Tribunals under the weight of Irons, and in the darkness of Prisons, but what will this Confession avail me, unless signed with my Blood?

Being penetrated with these Lofty Thoughts, and already ripened for Heaven, by the Practise of every Christian Vertue, he was seiz'd with a Sickness of which he died. It began with a Faintness and an Univer∣sal Decay of Nature, which grew into a Consumpti∣on. The Emperor's Physicians kept him up some time with the help of Physick, especially Cordials, in which the Chinese have a wonderful Success; but his Fever increasing, Art at length was forced to yield to Nature. He received the Sacraments with a Zeal that charmed all that were present; and when he yielded up the Ghost, they were equally struck with Devotion and Sorrow.

The Emperor, who the day before had lost the Em∣press his Mother, felt a double Grief when he heard the News. He ordered the Burial to be put off till the Court should be out of Deep Mourning; and then he sent two Lords of the highest Quality to pay him on his behalf the same Devoirs which private Men usually pay to their Dead. They kneeled before the Coffin, which was exposed in a Hall, bowed several times, remaining a long while with their Faces to the Ground, and wept and groaned heavily, for that is the Custom. Then after those, and several other Ex∣pressions of their Sorrow, they read aloud his En∣comium which the Emperor himself had composed, and which was to be set up near the Corpse. It runs thus:

We seriously consider within our selves, that Father Fer∣dinando Verbiest, has of his own good will, left Eu∣rope to come into our Dominions, and has spent the greatest part of his Life in our Service; We must say this for him, That during all the time that he took Care of the Mathematicks, his Predictions never failed, but always agreed with the Motions of the Heavens. Besides, far from neglecting our Orders, he has ever approved himself to be Exact, Diligent, Faithful, and Constant in his La∣bour, till he had finished his Work, and ever the same. As soon as We heard of his Sickness, We sent him Our Physician, and when We knew that a dead Sleep had ta∣ken him away from Us, Our Heart was wounded with a lively Grief. We give Two hundred golden Crowns, and some Pieces of Silk, as a Contribution to the Charges of his Funeral: And it is Our Pleasure that this De∣claration bear Witness of the Sincere Affection We bore him.

The prime Mandarines and several Lords at Court followed their Sovereign's Example. Some wrote Speeches in his Praise on large Pieces of Satin, which were hung up in the Hall where the Body lay in State; others sent in Presents, and all mou••ned for his Loss. At length the Day of his Obsequies being agreed upon, which was the 11th of March 1688. every Body was willing to contribute something to∣wards the Ceremony.

The Emperor in the Morning sent his Father-in-law, who is also his Uncle, with one of the Chief Lords of his Court, attended by a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, and five Officers of his House∣hold, to represent his Person; who all began by falling down before the Corpse, and wept a pret∣ty while; during which, all things were disposed for the Procession.

The Colledge is Situated near the South Gate, whence you go to the North Gate by a Street built in a strait Line, about a hundred Foot broad, and a League long, which near the middle is crossed by another exactly like it, one end of which leads to the Western Gate, being within six hundred Paces of our burying place, which the Emperor Vauli had for∣merly bestowed on Father Recin, but had been taken away during the late Persecution, and not restored till now by a special Favour from the present Emperor. Thro' these two Streets the Funeral passed, in the Order I am going to describe.

First was seen a Pageant of about thirty Feet in heighth, varnished over with Red, on which was written in large Golden Characters, the Name, and Ti••les of Father Verbiest. This was, as one may say, the Signal of the ensuing Pomp, which began by a great Cross stuck with Flags, and carried be∣tween two Rows of Christians all clothed in White, holding in one hand a lighted Taper, and in the other a Handkerchief to wipe off their Tears. The Gentiles are used on such Solemnities to shed feign∣ed ones, but These had suffered a loss, which forced most true ones from them. Next, some distance off, followed in the same Order the Picture of the Virgin Mary, in a Frame, ••ound which were pieces of Silk, neatly plated in several manners instead of Carving; and then St. Michael's Representation was born with the like Ceremonies. And I may say, that the Christians who walked on either side, de∣voutly praying, inspired even the Heathen with a Veneration for those precious Tokens of our Faith.

Immediately after came the Father's Encomium, of the Emperor's own Composing, written on a large piece of yellow Satin; a Crowd of Christians surrounded it, and two Rows of those who had

been invited, followed it in a Respectful manner. At length appeared the Corpse, in a Coffin made of an ordinary Wood, but varnished and gilt after the Country fashion, carried by sixty Bearers, and attended by the Missionaries, the Deputies from Court, and a Throng of Lords and Mandarines, who closed up the Procession. It took up above a thousand Paces which were hem'd in on each side, by an infinite number of Spectators, who astonished beheld our Christian Rites triumphing, even in their Capital City, over Pagan Superstition.

When we were come to the Burying place, the Missionaries in their Surplices read the Prayers of the Church, before the Mandarins. The Body was besprinkled with Holy Water, and perfumed with In∣cense in the usual manner; then it was let down into a very deep square Vault, enclosed with four good Brick Walls. It was like a Chamber under∣ground, and in the Scripture Phrase became to him an Everlasting Habitation. Having pray'd near it some time, we remained on our Knees to hear what the Emperor's Father-in-law had to say to us; which was this: Father Verbiest has been considerably service∣able to the Emperor and the State; of which his Imperial Maj••sty being sensible, has sent me with these Lords to make a Publick Acknowledgment of it on his behalf, that all the World may know the singular Affection his Majesty did ever bear him while he lived, and the great Grief he has received by his Death.

We were so moved with the Dismal Ceremony, the Christians continual Lamentations, our own great Loss, and the Emperor's surprising Bounty, that we were not able to Reply. Every one melted into Tears; but that P••ince, who expected another An∣swer from us, was obliged to press us for it, when, at length, Father Pereiva thus spoke on our behalf: My, Lord, our Anguish was not so much the cause of our Silence,

as the Emperor's unparallel'd Goodness; for what can we say or think, when we consider that so great a Monarch uses us who are Strangers, Unknown, Useless, and per∣haps Troublesome to him, as if we had the Honour to be in his Service? Were we his Children he could not love us more; he takes care of our Health, of our Reputation, of our Life: He honours our very Death, not only with his Elogies, his Liberality, the Presence of the most Noble Lords of his Court, but (which never can enough be pri∣zed) by his Grief. What Return, My Lord, can we then make, not to all his Favours, but to that alone which your Highness has been pleased to deliver? We will only be bold to beg your Grace would acquaint his Majesty, that we Weep because our Tears may indeed make known our Sorrow, but that we remain Silent, because no Words can express our Gratitude.

The Emperor was informed of what had passed, and some days after the * 1.1 Chief Court of Rites, presented a Petiti∣on, That his Majesty would suffer them to Decree some new Honours to be paid that Illustrious Father's Memory. The Emperor not only granted it, but willed them to consider that Stranger of so extraordinary a Merit, was not to be look'd upon as an ordinary Man. In the very first Meeting they ordered seven hundred golden Crowns should be laid out on a Tomb for him, and the Encomium which the Emperor had wrote, should be ingraved on a Marble Stone, and that some Man∣darines should be once more deputed to pay him their last Devoirs in behalf of the Empire. Then they pro∣moted him, that is, gave him a higher Title than any he had enjoyed during his Life.

While the Emperor honoured the Saint on Earth, he, no doubt, pray'd for him in Heaven: For it is very observable, that that Prince never was more inquisi∣tive about Religion then at that time. He sent one

of his Gentlemen every Minute to the Fathers, to in∣quire about the Condition of Souls in the other World, about Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, the Exi∣stence of a God, his Providence, and the Means ne∣cessary to Salvation: So that God seemed to move his Heart after an extraordinary Manner, and to affect it with those Holy Doubts which usually precede our Conversion. But that happy Moment was not yet come. However, who knows but Father Verbiest's Prayers, and the Care of several zealous Missionaries who have succeeded him, may hasten the Execution of those Designs which Providence seems to have on that great Prince? I am most respectfully,

Madam,

Hour Highnesses most humble and obedient Servant L. J.

Notes

• * 1.1

  As with us the Colledge of Heralds.