in the Conspiracie) put vp a Petition against Ruggerius, who vpon inquisition was found at the time named to haue beene in Quam-si, two moneths journey thence. The Accuser hoped to get some-what, being poore, to stop his mouth, which they refased vtterly, and hee for feare fled, together with his Wife. The Father was iudicially cleered, and Martin in his presence receiued twentie cruell stripes, and condemned to the Gallies, was sent to Linsitau who had first com∣mitted him to confirme the sentence; who added sixtie stripes more, and being beggered and cast in bonds he was forsaken of all his Friends, and (the Fathers meane-while releeuing him) dyed within few dayes of the wounds. He which had gotten the Glasse from Martin, another Con∣uert, came and restored it to them, left it might breed him danger being found with him.
Linsitau was preferred to a higher dignitie in the Prouince of Hu-quam. To him the Citie [ 10] had erected a Temple, and on the Altar had set his Statue; before the Altar a great Harth for burning incense: Candlestickes were also magnificently placed; and at his departure the whole Citie there visited him, and after their rite, p••lled off his old Boots (Bootes are the ensignes of Magistracy) and put on new, putting the old in a Chist, and locking them vp to bee reserued for a monument of his worth. Ruggerius went to Amacao, and Matthew got leaue for Father Edward the Superiour to returne to Sciauquin. The new Conuerts which had lost their money, by Martins death, deuised new tumults against the Fathers; the Riuer (which is a mile broad) ouerflowing, damnified the houses of the Citie, whence grew occasions of new abuses to Ours. The Visitour endeauoured to procure Legation from the Pope to China, and Ruggerius was sent to Europe on that businesse, which tooke little effect by the death of diuers Popes; hee spending [ 20] the rest of his life at Salerne in the Kingdome of Naples.
Ricius was alone a good while, till Almeida came to him. His Clocke, by the Diall to the eyes, and by selfe-striking to the eares, caused no little wonder. But a new calumnie much endange∣red them made to the Ciai-yuen. For certaine old men of Canton, which are honoured for that in their whole liues they neuer haue accused any, nor beene accused of any, enioying therefore a yeerely feast out of the publike treasure, a peculiar Vest, and diuers other immunities, put vp a Petition, admonishing of the danger of the Amacaons, and especially those Spies which had builded houses of diuers stories, and euery day proceed with new arts, giuing money toward the building of Sciauquin Tower to get entrance into that Citie, sayling to and fro without im∣pediment, dangerous to the State. This is that which our Bookes fore-tell, Yee haue sowen thornes [ 30] and nettles in a gentle soyle, yee haue brought in Serpents and Dragons into your houses. That of Ama∣cao is like a sore on the hands or feet easily cured at leasure, but this of Sciauquin, an vlcer seizing on the breast and heart timely to be remedied, &c. The Visitour reputed a seuere man committed it to the Haitu, and at last it came to the Gouernour of Sciauchin, who then being at Pequin to per∣forme the customary trienniall visitation to the King, Phan his colleague (our friend, then Lieute∣nant) assisted vs with his Counsell, and they gaue their Glasse to the new Linsitau, who ended the quarrell with the Visitour, as being a false calumnie.
The two Marts prouided them of exhibitions and European Presents from Canton, and their Clocke, Mathematike Instruments, Geographicall Maps, Pictures, and Bookes, with Musicall Instruments, had procured them much visitation, and much estimation of Europe, and some fruit [ 40] thereof in Conuersions. Neither was this Station vnprofitable to Amacao, helping their af∣faires with the Magistrates, in businesses with the Vice-roy, in cases of shipwrackes, in redu∣cing fugitiue slaues. It happened at that time the Vice-roy dying, his Successour would not through superstition enter his Palace till hee had pulled it quite downe and built it anew at the Kings charge. Meanewhile spending his time in Canton Prouince, he was made against vs and banished vs. But the Magistrates being our friends, and order comne then from Pequin to buy Scarlets of the Portugals, F. Mat. Ricius was employed, and got their good liking, but not leaue by any meanes of the Vice-roy to stay at Sciauchin. Yea, hee forced vpon the Gouernour the execution of his Mandate to packe them away, offering money for the house, which they refused to take, saying, a house built for Gods seruice might not be sold, and it were ill merchan∣dise [ 50] to take sixtie pieces of Gold for sixe hundred which it had cost them.
When they came at Canton the Admirall was absent, and whiles they waited for him the Vice-roy sent a Barke for them to returne, and then permitted them to chuse any other place of residence. Ricius chose Nanhium in the Prouince of Quiansi (or Quamsi, or Chiansi) which hee refused not, but wished them first to trye at Nanhoa, or at Xauceum, commending them to the Assistant of the Gouernour thereof, then present, and gaue Ricius a bundle of bookes of his owne acts in token of good will, who thanked him with his fore-head to the ground, after their fashion. They departed from Sciauchin on the Assumption day, 1589. They came to the place called Sanceui, or Three-waters, where the Riuers of Xauceum from the North falls into a great Riuer: there they vse to change ships, to haue others fitted in other fashion to sayle against the [ 60] streame. In eight dayes sayling to the North, they came to the place where the Gouernours seruant stayed for them to bring them to the Temple or Monasterie of Nanhoa, part of which the Vice-roy had giuen them if they liked it. This Monasterie they found in a goodly Plaine, enuironed with pleasant Hills, enriched with hand-set fruit-bearing trees, watered with a