An HISTORICAL ESSAY Endeavouring a Probability That the LANGUAGE Of the Empire of CHINA is the Primitive LANGUAGE.  
By john Webb of Butleigh in the County of Somerset Esquire.  
LONDON, Printed for Nath. Brook, at the Angel in Gresham College. 1669.   

Licenced By Authority.   

TO THE MOST SACRED MAJESTY OF CHARLES The Second.  
SIR,  
NEW DISCOVERIES make the Lives of PRINCES famous; Their POSTERITY powerful; Their Subjects rich. Most prudently therefore doth YOUR MAJESTY vouchsafe to encourage them. Which rais●…th a Spirit in the Hearts of Your People to prosecute the same. It being fully verified in Your Majesty, what was said unto that famous Emperor of CHINA, HIAVOWS, The virtue of a KING is like the Wind, his Subjects like Corn, which incline all to that part, whereunto they are moved by the Wind.  
This ESSAY in all humble submission invokes YOUR ROYAL Protection, it pretends to advance the DISCOVERY of that GOLDEN-MINE of Learning, which from all ANTIQUITY hath lain concealed in the PRIMITIVE TONGUE; whither Religion, Famous Examples of the Wisdom of Old, Politic Rules for Government, or what ever else advantageous to Mankind be respected. And wherein no doubt, so great Mysteries are involved, as nothing hitherto in all the Learning of the World can either excel or equal.  
Hence it is, thatso many Writers, in almost all Ages since the Birth of CHRIST have one way or other treated thereof: some asserting the Teutonique to be it; some the Samaritan; others the phoenician; divers Churchmen pleading as well for the Chaldaean, as Hebrew. With what success I question not; my intention being, not to dispute what in Possibility cannot, but what in Probability may be the First Speech. Neither is it my purpose with others to insist on vulgar Traditions, or licentious Etymologies of Words; weak and frail Foundations to support such a Weight, but fix my Basis upon Sacred Truth, and credible History. Scripture teacheth, that the whole Earth was of one Language until the Conspiracy at BABEL; History informs that CHINA was peopled, whilst the Earth was so of one Language, and before that Conspiracy. Scripture teacheth that the judgement of Confusion of Tongues, fell upon those only that were at BABEL: History informs, that the CHINOIS being fully settled before, were not there; And moreover that the same LANGUAGE and CHARACTERS which long preceding that Confusion they used, are in use with them at this very DAY; whither the Hebrew, or Greek Chronology be consulted.  
The Scripture is infallible, my principal Authors, fide Sacerdotum datâ, profess Integrity, as having of very late Days, by long study compiled the History of CHINA, from the Ancient Records thereof, eversince the time of NOAH. The Foundation then not failing, my Superstructure most probably stands, So much the firmer; as that how valid soever transient Words are, written Records be of far more certain Credit. As YOUR Serene MAJESTY right well knows.  
YOUR MAJESTY may happily say, I have daringly engaged in a bold Undertaking. But difficult things GREAT SIR are as soon effected, as easy, if the true way be observed. However to err in a matter wherein so many of greatest Learning have erred: YOUR MAJESTY pleasing to pardon me, I need not blush.  
The LORD GOD of Heaven and Earth, bless, guide, and preserve YOU, in all Your Counsels; and make YOU Religious like Jaus; Wise like Yuus; Victorious like Hiavows, whose conquering sword crowned Him with victory over more Nations, than Alexander of Macedon ever seen or heard of; Like Xunus beloved of all YOUR People: And make all YOUR People as publicly minded, as Their People the CHINOIS, Whereby YOUR MAJESTY and ROYAL POSTERITY shall reign happily to Eternity; and YOUR Kingdoms enjoy Wealth and Prosperity throughout all Ages.  
SIR, Your Sacred Majesties Ever most Loyal Ever most Lowly Subject and Servant, john Webb. Butleigh 29 May 1668.   


An Exact MAP of CHINA▪ being faithfully Copied from one brought from Peking by 〈◊〉 Father Lately resident in that City.    

AN ESSAY Towards the PRIMITIVE Language.  
BY what manner of Policy, the several Nations and People of the world were governed before the Flood, no certain memory is remaining, nor any record to which we may given just credit, extant; either of the wars or peace, or other actions that were then performed. But that they had Kings, Rulers, and set Forms of Government, undertook noble Enterprises, made Invasions, subdued Countries, managed with great advice the affairs of war, and achieved many things worthy of admiration, there is no cause to doubt. For, their exceeding long lives, having, to their strength of body, added the experience of eight hundred or nine hundred years, must necessarily increase their Wisdom and conduct, and tender their undertake (had they been communicated to posterity) far more excellent, than whatever can be related of aftertimes.  
And though Moses passeth over this first Age in so short a narrative as seven brief chapters; and, writing an history of and for the Church, mentioneth no farther, the affairs and nations of the world, than was meet for the Church, that of the Israelites especially, to know, according as it was likely they should have then, or after, more or lesle to do with them; much nevertheless may be collected from him in relation to the condition of that time. For, we found that the men of those days were mighty and famous; his words Gen. 6. v. 4. being, They were mighty men, which were of old men of renown. We may style them Hero's, such as either through their valour brought almost impossible and admirable attempts to an unexpected and desired issue; or such as by their virtue were the Authors of profitable Arts and Sciences, and reduced Mankind to civil and sociable conversation.  
But it is not to be denied, that then there were mighty men in regard of bodily stature also, whom the Scripture calleth from their greatness and terribleness Rephaim and Emim; from their pride Anakim; from their strength Gibborim; from their Tyranny Nephilim; from 
Gibbons in Gen.  their naughtiness Zamzummim; such were Og and Goliath after the Flood. But howsoever the bodies of these men were composed, certain it is, that before the Deluge, they divided (as we by the Civil Law are now want to do) their goods among their children; assigning their Real estates to the eldest of their sons, and their Personal to the younger. For, Adam gave unto Cain Lands to Till, unto Abel Sheep to Feed.  
Posterity being multiplied, they fell immediately to the building of Cities, fortifying of Castles, driving of Cattles, committing of Slaughters, and whatever else the interest of their wilfulness persuaded them unto; These things being done by them as well for necessary habitation, as for strength and safety to secure themselves, and oppress others. That they did build Cities, no doubt is to be made; for if jabal was the first that dwelled in Tents, Where should the rest devil, saith Heylin, but in Cities, Towns, or Villages? And that the first of Cities was built by Cain, as also that he called it after the name of his Son Enoch, the Scripture teacheth Gen 4. v. 17. which was either erected by him, to cross that curse of his wand'ring to and from; or to arm him against others, whom his guilty conscience caused him to fear; or to be a receptacle and storehouse of those spoils, which by force and violence, josephus tells us, 
jos. 〈◊〉. jud. lib. 〈◊〉. c. 3.  he took from others, when the earth was barren to him, and would afford him nothing. Probable it is, that the City was called Enoch, because, the curse not suffering the Father to stay in any place, he was enforced to commit an hasty inheritance to his son, and leave him to finish and govern the same.  
To this manner of life, in regard of general use, several Arts were invented; One finds out the making of Tents, in which leading a wand'ring life, his robberies might be the more concealed, and his flocks and herds the better fed. Another the forging of iron useful for the making of arms, and weapons of war▪ and what else they could of that kind. Another, Music: whereby the affections being inflamed, they were stirred up unto those things, in which they placed their greatest happiness. So that as this race of men, acted all things not by reason, but lust; frequent contentions, private quarrels, and open war, could not but of necessity arise among them: and, though they might be well enough able from themselves to defend themselves; the other party, the children of Seth nevertheless lived no more safely among them, than silly sheep among raging wolves.  
They were as great Idolaters, if not greater 
Idem c. 4.  then those of the after-age to which they gave example; for, degenerating, saith josephus, from the ancient institutions of their forefathers, they neither observed the service of God, nor human Laws. But were fierce and cruel, full of Injustice, Oppression, Murder, Rapine, Pride and Ambition, all concomitants of war, and presages of rvine to ensue. Which Ambition and Pride had, as it seemeth, a very early influence upon the Leaders of the succeeding Age, otherwise they could not possibly have imagined that they should make themselves a name, by the building of such a work at Babel, as they enterprised to erect; nor so soon have known what war meant, as that, ere they were well warm in their new seats, to invade one another. For, the issues of Assur, and the issues of Cham, saith Sir W. Raleigh, fell instantly at contention 
Sir Walt. Ra. Hast. par. 1. pa. 144.  for the Empire of the East.  
As for first-fruits of Peace, they had Theology, Prophecy, Astronomy, Astrology; had Weights and Measures; and Cain, as josephus relates, first assigned proprieties in possession of Land, before as common as the Air and Light: therefore Meum and Tuum was even in those times.  
Concerning their manner of diet: many are of opinion, that they eat no flesh, but fed on vegetable aliments, those at the lest of the race of Seth, who obeyed the command of God. And this may be collected from the very Text, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth; and every tree in thee which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed to you, it shall be for meat; Gen. 1. v. 29. which plainly sheweth, they were utterly prohibited the eating of flesh. Neither do we read, that this prohibition was taken of, till immediately after the descent of Noah from the Ark, when either, because the Deluge had impaired or infirmed the nature of vegetables, God giving him an augmentation of his words, said, Every moving thing that liveth soall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things, Gen. 9 v. 3. And though it may be supposed, the first men would not keep sheep, except they made food of them; very learned expositors will tell us▪ that it was partly for their skins, with which 〈◊〉 loathed themselves; partly for their milk with which they sustained them, and partly for offerings which they sacrificed unto God. As Dr. Brown in his Pseudodoxia Epidemica hath delivered. 
Dr. T. Br. in Pseud. Epid. l. 3: p. 141.   
They enjoyed the use of Letters: for josephus attesteth, that Adam having prophesied two universal Destructions, one by fire, another by water, his posterity erected two pillars, one of brick, another of stone, in both which they writ their inventions of Astronomy. But, notwithstanding he thus witnesseth, yet whither those of Adam's posterity that erected the same pillars invented the Letters they engraved on them, he saith not: whereby we may conjecture, that, admitting the ingravements were made be Seth or Enoch; the Characters nevertheless were more ancient, and by some other found out; of which haply we shall have somewhat more to say. However, of these Epigraphs the Scripture seemeth not to be altogether silent; for we read, judge, 3. v. 26. And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the Quarries, and escaped unto Seinath. Now Isa: Vossius tells us, that this Translation receding from the true signification 
Is. Voss. de At●…t. mun. p. 3●….  of the Hebrew word, puts Quarries for Sculptures. But the Seventy have rightly rendered it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; for there, saith he, was that stony Pillar which the Hebrews believe Seth set up, as josephus allegeth, who writes that even in his time the same Pillar remained in a place called Syriada.  
Some ascribe the invention of Astronomy to Seth, as also the first naming of the seven Planets: Others to Enoch, who, they say, 〈◊〉 furthered this Science, and who (saith Eupolemon) was by the Greeks called Atlas, to whom they attribute the invention thereof.  
Trades also they had and Occupations: Cain was a Ploughman, Abel a Shepherd. Arts and Sciences, as was said before, as well military as civil; for jubal invented musical instruments, and Tubal-Cain the working in metals, and making of Armour, which some think to be Vulcan by the nearness of name and occupation. They lived in all manner of wealth, pleasures, delights, licentiousness, and sensuality; and Naamah is reputed the first inventress of linen and woollen, and of vocal Music, and seemeth to have been the Venus, or Helena rather, of those times; all the world wand'ring in love after her, if we may credit the Hebrew Doctors.  
Heylin telleth us, the like may be supposed in 
Heyl. Cosm p. 4. Lond. 1657.  all other mysteries and Arts of living, though there be no express mention made of them in those early days. In regard therefore that Sciences were then in such manner multiplied, though Moses recordeth them not; divers are of opinion, notwithstanding we read not in Genesis of any kind of shipping before the building of the Ark, that the knowledge of Navigation was not wanting to them, it being so singular an Art; so necessary for the life of man, and by the natural and daily use of swimming, so easily to be found out. Which Conjecture hath some ground of likelihood, considering that Adam according to the very probable, though commonly received Opinion, was, by his Creation learned in all manner of Arts. As also, that although in their removes for peopling of the world, they might either by swimming, or by bridges, or on rafts, pass conveniently over rivers; yet nevertheless over Seas out of one part of the world into another, or from Continents into Islands they could not possibly transport themselves without shipping, and some skill in Navigation. And if any should object, that, had they had shipping, others might have been saved in them, besides Noah and his family: it may be answered, that the Ark of Noah was covered; for the Text saith, And Noah removed the covering of the Ark, etc. Gen. 8. v. 13. that is (as we are to conceive) part thereof, and so much as served to look forth, from whence he might see round about, which by the window he could not do, it opening one way only. Whereas the other shipping being open vessels, could not live during such continually violent reins, and downfalls of water, which like Hyracanes, or Spouts, Cataractae Caell come tumbling from the clouds; but must inevitably perish. Besides, They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the Ark. Mat. 24. v. 38. And therefore took no care, and could have no time to make any stores ready, or be victualled for so long a season as the flood lasted, or till provisions were sprung up and to be had again. Add especially hereunto, that God had passed his decree, that all Mankind, and all living Creatures, upon the face of the earth, Noah and his family, and those with him in the Ark excepted, should be destroyed.  
That the world was throughly peopled before the flood, that great and universal Deluge, which God, for the sins of men, was pleased to bring upon the whole world, doth clearly manifest. For why, saith Heylin, 
Heyl. Cosm p. 6.  should all the earth be buried in that sea of waters, if all the Earth had not been peopled, and all the people of it guilty of oppression in the sight of God? And certainly, saith Sir. W. 
Sir W. Ra. hist. par. 1. p. 136.  Raleigh, seeing all the world was overflown, there were people in all the whole world which offended. But, that the whole world was peopled by Adam and his offspring before the flood, that Scripture which commandeth Adam to be fruitful and multiply, and to replenish the Earth, Gen. 1. v. 28. doth, I conceive, asplainly and evidently manifest, as that by virtue of the like blessing conferred in the self same words on Noah, Gen 9 v. 1. it was to be peopled by Noah and his issue after the flood. For if so many Million of men, as we shall shortly hear, Ninus, Zoroaster, Semiramis, and Staurobates, led after them to the field (and they left not all their Kingdoms empty) were born within three hundred years after the Deluge: What numbers might they consist of, that one thousand six hundred fifty six years brought forth, preceding the same? If, in like manner, all Asia the greater, and the lesle, with Greece, and the Islands thereof, all Egypt, with Mauritania and Lybia, were within the aforesaid time after the flood fully peopled: And if we believe Berosus, then not only those parts of the world, but (within one hundred and forty years after the flood) Spain, Italy and France were also planted; much more then may we think, that in one thousand six hundred fifty six years before the flood, the world was throughly replenished with people.  
From the first promise made to Abraham, unto the departure of Israel out of Egypt, being four hundred and thirty years, after the Apostles account, Galat. 3. v. 17. were born of Abraham's own body, comprehending men, women, and children, saith Willet, fifteen hundred thousand. And reason will grant, that, having the same blessing promised, as great increase 
A. William in Exod. 12.  should be given to the sons of Adam, as the sons of Noah. Considering withal that the sacred story doth not particularly recite all the progeny of all the men in those days, but that only which seemed chiefly necessary for understanding the succession of things and times. And it is absurd to think, that men during such long lives, and in such perfect health should not beget very many children, and have frequently two and three at a birth. When in this our Age we have known a woman, the wife of one Edward jones by name, a Waterman yet living in Westminster, to have brought him forth eight children within the compass of two years, at the first birth two, at the second as many, and at the last four. And when within this last Century from Robert Honywood of Charing in the County of Kent Esquire, and Mary his wife, she, that is so famous for balancing her salvation with the breaking of a glass, lawfully proceeded three hundred sixty seven persons within lesle than the space of eighty years. Taking notice also, that, long before the flood, Polygamy being universally contracted to strength of body and length of days, no degrees of kindred or consanguinity were observed. And when death forbearing the father, made no place for the son, till he had beheld living nations of his own body. Therefore we have cause to doubt, that the people wanted world, rather than the world people; or, as Sir W. Raleigh, the world could not contain them, rather than that they were not spread throughout the world. Insomuch that if God had not abridged the life of man after the Flood, and decreed his age to be ordinarily no more than seventy years, whereby women are become incapable to bear children above thirty years at most, and made them all subject likewise to infinity of diseases, there must either have ensued some other universal destruction to have exstirpated them all again, or else they could not have had so much as room to have breathed in; their numbers would have been so infinite, many ages since.  
For, supposing the women before the flood to have been generally fruitful, as no doubt they were, and that they continued childbearing long, of which in regard of the length of their lives, as little question is to be made, setting aside how many children soever they might have at a birth, though in Egypt even since the flood, it hath been usual with them to bring forth two, three, five, and, as Trogus Pompeius saith, sometimes Seven at a birth. It seems not impossible, considering the increase of the Honywood's, but that, by ordinary means, in the revolution of one thousand six hundred fifty six years, such numbers might be multiplied, as would not only plant the whole world, but also many more worlds besides, if any such were. For, finding that from two persons in almost eighty years were produced three hundred sixty seven; if we admit from Adam and Eve in the interval of the two first Centuries after the Creation to have proceeded but four hundred, and allow one fourth part only of this number to be apt for generation; that is, one hundred, or fifty married couples: then if each of these couples have but every two years one, they will bring forth in 50 years more than twelve hundred and fifty sou●…s. And by thus proportioning one fourth part of the number begotten, to every fifty years of time, which▪ in regard of their long lives, and presumed strong constitutions, could not be any impediment to procreation; it is most clear, most certain, that in the space of sixteen hundred years the last generation will amount unto two thousand, nine hundred, thirty three millions of millions; three hundred eighty four thousand, seven hundred sixty six millions; ninety six thousaud and four hundred persons; the odd fifty six years, how advantageous soever in the last place, being wholly laid aside. For, if the product of those be added, it will increase their numbers unto above ten millions of millions. So that either that first age was as much or more subject to Plagues, Pestilences, Famines, Wars, Losses, and Calamities, as aftertimes; or else, either the world could not contain such prodigious multitudes; or they must devour one another for want of food and habitations. For, granting the Terrestrial Globe to be all habitable Earth, no Seas intervening and dividing it into twelve equal parts; it will be found, allotting to each division two hundred and fifty millions of people, that three thousand millions will fully plant the same, and make it more wonderfully populous than this extreme part of Asia, whereof we are to treat. But being, scarcely the one half of it only is habitable, and Sea possesseth the rest; fifteen hundred millions will more than enough suffice. Whereby it is demonstrable, that, if for settling of Plantations multitudes of people be requirable, the whole Earth was throughly planted before the Flood. But how innumerable soever their numbers appear to be, by the just judgement of God upon them for their manifold offences, they were, by the first of the universal destructions, Water, all destroyed.  
The Scripture is very manifest and plain herein, And behold, I, even I (saith the Lord) do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under Heaven, and every thing that is in the Earth shall die, Gen. 6. v. 17. Again, Gen. 7. v. 19 And the waters provailed exceedingly upon the Earth, and all the high hills that were under the whole Heaven were covered. Now this drowning of the world, hath not been quite drowned in the world; for, even by profane Authors it is remembered. To omit others, Lucian in his Dea Syria relateth the opinion of the Hierapolitans, but a little corrupted from the narration of Moses; so plainly doth he attribute to his Deucalion the Ark, the resort and safeguard of the lions, bores, serpents, and beasts; the repairing of the world after this drowning thereof, which he ascribeth to the perjury, cr●…elty, and other abominations of the former people. Berosus not as in Amnius that brat of a Monk, but as in Abydenus that ancient Historiar, cited by Eusebius, as I found in Sir W. Raleigh, affirmeth, 
Sir W. Ra. hist. par. 1. p. 88  that Saturn gave warning to Sissithrus of this Deluge, and willed him to prepare a great Vessel or ship, wherein to put convenient food, and to save himself with his kindred and acquaintance; which he builded, of length five furlongs, and of breadth two. After the retiring of the waters, he sent out a Bird which returned; after a few days he sent her forth again, which returned with her feet bemired; and being sent out the third time come no more. Plutarch 
Plut: de a●…im. comparat.  also hath written of this Dove, sent by D●…ucalion out of the Ark, which returning was a sign of tempest; and flying forth, of fare weather.  
At Berne in Switzerland in the year 1460. in a Mine from whence they drew out Metal-Ore, 
Simler. Ortel. Fracastor. apud Meu: Cent.  at fifty fathom deep, a ship was digged up, in which were forty eight carcases of men, with Merchant's goods: At Shotesham in Norfolk within the lands of Sir William Daily▪ Knight, in digging of a Well, at a considerable distance from the Sea, at sixteen fathom, innumerable quantities of Oysters, Cockles, Perywinckles, and such other sorts of shellfish, whole and unbroken, were found: and in Cheshire within the forest of Da●…imore, in searching for Marle, at sixty fathom, at seventy say some, huge and mighty trees, as black and hard as Ebony, were taken forth. Now, What should these discoveries, and others of this kind whereof Histories are full, signify? but to declare unto posterity, that not only the Continents of all the Earth, but Islands of the Sea also, and all the other parts of the world, as well as Asia, were drowned and overflown: and that the inhabitants of them in like manner perished.  
When then the world was wholly inhabited before the flood, it must consequently follow, that several dispersions and plantations were then made, as either the numbers of the people increased, or the necessity of providing victuals for themselves and families enforced; as strong a motive, saith Heylin, to such dispersions 
H●…yl▪ Co●…. pag. 〈◊〉.  as the Confusion of Tongues was afterwards. The difference is, That, that which necessity would have done in long tract of time, the Confusion of Tongues did at an instant. And if any should imagine the unity of their Language did hinder their dispersion, we confess it some hindrance at first, but not much afterwards: for though it might restrain their dispersion, it could not their Populosity, which necessarily requireth transmigration, and emission of Colonies. In regard therefore of such several dispersions, the different affections of the people and general corruption of the Age; for, The whole earth was corrupted, Gen. 6. v. 11. Heylin makes no question, but that they might have different Languages and forms of speech, at lest as to the Dialect and Pronunciation, although the Radicals of the Language might remain the same. But though, besides what hath been already said, that expression of the Builders of Babel, Let us make us a name, jest we●… be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole Earth, Gen. 11. v. 4. seemeth to imply, that there were dispersions preceding the flood; for how else should they in such newness of time apprehended, they might be scattered abroad, unless they had learned from their fathers by hearing them relate, that the people had been dispersed into several Plantations before; and therefore would provide, that whatever become of others, they might promise' themselves a name, and be remembered by the work they made, into what part of the world soever they should chance afterwards to be dispersed. Nevertheless I cannot found, the lest authority to presume, that the language spoken by our first Parents, admitted any whatever alteration either in the Form or Dialect and pronunciation thereof, before the Confusion of Tongues at Babel; but that it was in this first Age before the flood, and afterwards until the time of that Confusion, the common and general speech, and therefore primitively called (saith Celestine) Lingua humana, the Human Tongue. Monsieur D'Espagne in his Essay of the 
I D' E▪ pagne. p. 38  wonders of God, tells us, That the Language of Adam continued alone in the world, there being noon other for the space of fourteen generations; this Unity continued till the nativity of Phaleg the Son of Heber. And Crinesius 
Chr. Crin▪ de conf. Ling. p. 3.  saith, All men living in the time before, and at the Confusion itself, did not only agreed in unity of Words, but also in unity of Lip, that is, in the manner of Pronunciation. Wherhfore we may certainly conclude, that Noah carried the Primitive Language into the Ark with him, and that it continued pure and uncorrupted among his succeeding generations until the Confusion of Tongues at Babel, till when, The whole Earth was of one Language and one Lip, as Gen. 11. v. 1. clearly manifesteth.  
Now whither this Language may be yet remaining in any part of the Universal World, is the main subject of our enquiry. In order to which, we are to consider, in what part of the World the Ark first rested; what Colonies were planted either before Nimrod and his Troops come into the Valley of Shinaar, or the Confusion of Tongues happened; And whither yea or not, those Colonies so planted were liable to the curse of Confounded Languages, being through their absence, not guilty of the Crime committed at Babel.  
Concerning then the place where the Ark might rest after the Flood: All that the Scripture saith of it, is, that the Ark rested upon the Mountains of Ararat, Gen. 8. v. 4. But in what Country these Mountains are, that it saith not. josephus will have these Mountains of Ararat 
jos. Ant. jud. l. 1. c. 4  to be the hills of Armenia, borrowing his discovery from Berosus, cited by him in these words, Fertur & navigij hujus pars in Armenia apud montem Cordiaeorum superesse; & quosdam Bitumen inde abrasum secum reportare, quo maxime vice amuleti leci hujus homines uti solent; and it is reported saith he, that a part of this vessel is yet remaining in Armenia upon the Cordiaean Mountains, and that divers do scrape from it the Bitumen, and carrying it away with them, use it especially instead of an Amulet. Nicholas Damascenus calleth this Mountain of Ararat, Baris. But Sir W. Raleigh after having by several arguments fully proved, that the Ark of Noah did not rest in any part of Armenia, and that the Mountain of Ararat was not any one of the Gordiaean Mountains, or Baris, there being no such hill in Armenia, or in rerum natura, as Baris concludeth. That Ararat is not any one hill so called, not more than any one hill among those Mountains which divide Italy from France, is called the Alps; or any one of those which part France from Spain, the Pyrenian. But as these being continuations of many hills, keep one name in divers Countries, so a●…l that long ledge of Mountains which beginning at the Coast of Lycia runs through Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, Media, Susiana, Parthia, Caramama, Aria, Margiana, Bactria, Sogdiana, and Paropamisus, having all these Kingdoms on the North or Southside of them, are of one general name. And that as Pliny giveth to this ledg of high hills, even from Cilicia to Paropamisus, and Caucasus, the general name of Taurus, so was Ararat the general name which Moses gave them, the diversity of appellations no otherwise growing, than by their dividing and bordering divers Regions, and divers Countries. As in like manner we do call that, that doth generally go by the name of the Mediterranean Sea, sometimes the Tyrrhene, Ionian, Adriatic, and Aegean; sometimes the Hellespont, Pontus, Propontis, and B●…sphorus, according to the several Countries it passeth by, and the several Coasts it washeth. And therefore seeing that Moses teacheth us, that all those people, which under the conduct of Nimrod entered the Valley of Shinaar, come from the East, And as they went from the East, they found a plain in the land of Shinaar, and there they abode, Gen. 11. v. 2. We may I suppose, saith he, without controversy resolve, that the Ark of Noah rested and took ground upon those Mountains of Taurus, or Ararat, as Moses calleth them, which lie Eastward from Shinaar, between East- India and Scythia; and not on those Mountains of the Northwest, betwixt Mesopotamia, and Armenia major, as Berosus first feigned, and most Writers following him have since mistaken.  
Goropius Becanus in his Indo-Scythia maintains, that the Ark rested on the top of Mount 
Gor. Bec. Indos. p. 473.  Caucasus, in the confines of Tartary, Persia, and India, using many arguments for his opinion; as among others the exceeding populousness of the Eastern Countries, but relying principally upon the aforesaid Text of Scripture. With him Heylin joins issue; saying, If then they come 
Heyl. Cosm. Pag. 7.  from the East to the land of Shinaar, as the Text saith plainly that they did, it might well be, that they come from those parts of Asia, on the South of Caucasus, which lie East from Shinaar, though somewhat bending into the North, impossible they should come from the Gordiaean Mountains in the greater Armenia, which lie not only full North from Shinaar, but many degrees unto the West.  
The first thing mentioned in Scripture, that Noah did after his coming forth of the Ark, having sacrificed and returned thanks to God for his deliverance, was, to Till the Ground and Plant. And Noah began to be an Husbandman, and be planted a Vineyard, Gen. 9 v. 20. And manifest it is, that he travailed not far to seek out the Vine, for the Plantation thereof is remembered, before he entered into any counsel, how to dispose of the World among his children. In regard whereof many are of opinion, that Noah seated himself in the East, in or neare to the place, where he first went forth of the Ark, and that he never come to Shinaar at all. For he was too principal a person to be either forgotten or neglected, had he removed with Nimrod thither. 
Sir Wal. Ral. hist, par. 1. pag. 158.  And it is no where found, saith Sir W. Raleigh, that Noah himself come with this Troop to Babylon, no mention at all being made of him (the years of his life excepted) in the succeeding story of the Hebrews, nor that Sem, or any of the Sons of Noah's own body, was in this disobedient company, or among the bvilders of Babel. Therefore it is very probable that Noah 
Id. p. 144.  taking up his rest, not far from the place where the Ark grounded, first inhabited India, and had well peopled all those parts, which lay nearest to him, before he sent Nimrod, and his followers forth upon new discoveries. Hence the same Author telleth us also, that from the East come 
Id. p. 109.  the first knowledge of all things, and that the East parts of the world were the first civilised, having Noah himself for an Instructor, whereby the farther East to this day, the more Civil, the farther West the more Savage.  
In confirmation hereof Heylin likewise declares, 
Heyl. Cosm. p. 16. 17.  that Sir W. Raleigh pleads the point exceeding strongly, that it must needs be, that Noah was settled in the East, and had well peopled all those parts which lay nearest to him, before he sent Nimrod and his Troop abroad to search for other habitations. And after having very studiously discoursed of the several generations, and dispersions of the Sons of Noah, so far forth as their names are registered in holy Scripture to be the Heads and Leade●…s of those several Tribes, which joined together in the design for the building of Babel, and afterwards dispersed themselves, he proceedeth, saying, But that no more than these (I mean, saith he, heads of Families) descended in so long a time from the loins of Noah, that they should have towards the new peopling of the world in an hundred years (for so long time it must be at lest from the Flood, to the building of Babel,) no more than sixteen Sons in all, and ten of those sixteen go childless to the grave, is not a thing to be imagined. Nor is it to be thought, that all the people which were born since the flood till then, could meet together at one place as by inspiration; or being met could join together in a work of so little profit; or that if Noah or Sem had been there among them, they would not have dissuaded them from that foolish enterprise. And therefore I should rather be of their opinion which think, that Noah fixed himself in those parts, which lay nearest to the place where the Ark took land, and having planted as far Eastward as he thought convenient, sent out the surplusage of his people; under the conduct of one or more of these Undertakers, directing them perhaps to the land of Shinaar, where himself had dwelled before the flood. For, in regard there is noon of those, though most diligent men, who have written of the Plantations of the world upon this dispersion, that either speak of any Nations planted by Noah himself, or Sem and japhet, or of their settling in the Colonies of any one of their Descendants; it is to me saith Heylin again, a very strong argument, that they come not with the rest to the Plains of Shinaar, but tarried still in those habitations, wherein God had planted them.  
Purchus thinks, that before the flood Noah lived in Syria (which probably his Author might 
Purch. Pilgrimage, lib. 1. p. 67.  mistake for Serica) but whither there, or in the land of Shinaar, or wheresoever else; josephus affirms, that he forsook his native Country, and with his Wife and Family travailed into another Region, where he built the Ark. Now, though what become of him, or wither he removed is uncertain. Nevertheless it is most sure, saith Willet, that he neither joined with 
A. Willet in Gen. 8. & 〈◊〉  Nimrod, nor his company, nor ever engaged with them; and although the Scripture maketh no mention of the rest of his Acts, yet no doubt is to be made, but that he exercised himself in Planting of Religion, and doing most excellent works for the benefit of Mankind, of which Moses omitteth to speak, as also of the proceed of the Godly succeeding Fathers, because he hasteth to the story of Abraham.  
That Noah stayed behind and come not with the rest to the Valley of Shinaar, Goropius also 
G. Bec. Indos. pag. 466.  is clearly of opinion; who in like manner asserteth, that it is for certain, about Ararat first; afterwards in the Plains of Shinaar, men after the Deluge seated themselves, and from either of those places were dispersed into several parts of the world. And if any shall think the contrary, saith he, that noon remained behind, but all went together to Shinaar, he will of great folly accuse the second Parent of Mankind, that he should have so little of the common sense of men in him, as to make them all leave assured habitations, for uncertain dwellings; secure houses, for open fields; free ways, for encumbered passages; and known Meadows, for unknown pastures. By the verses of Sibylla also, which not only josephus, but likewise Eusebius, St. Hierome, 
Id: p. 532  and others word for word remember, it appears that all come not together to Shinaar. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. i. e. as Goropius renders the words, Cum omnes homines ejusdem linguae usum haberent, quidam eorum turrim aedificarunt altissimam, quasi per eam telum essent assensuri, when all men had the use of one same Tongue, some of them built a most high Tower, as if they had intended to have scaled Heaven thereby. When then Sibylla, as Sir W. Raleigh observes, making a limitation, saith, some of them [only some] built the Tower; and Moses witnesseth, that those that built it, come from the East into the West, it is plainly manifest, that all come not together with Nimrod unto Shinaar, but others remained behind in the Eastern parts. All therefore were not present at the building of the Tower, seeing that they went not All together; neither is it said in Scripture that they did, which as it doth positively say, They were All of one speech; so it doth not definitively say, They All went.  
Moreover, the exceeding multitude of People, wherein the East parts of the world first abounded; and wherein noon of those by whom the Earth was planted after the Confusion of Tongues, are yet reported to have settled any Colonies, doth likewise very much convince, that the East Countries were peopled before the remove to Babel. For, that they were not left desolate upon this remove, but sufficiently provided both of Men and Cities, appeareth by those vast Armies of Zoroaster and Staurobates; 
Heyl. Cosm. p. 7. & 731  of whom Zoroaster out of his own Kingdom of Bactria, brought into the field against Ninus the Monarch of Assyria, an Army of four hundred thousand fight men; which manifesteth, saith Heylin, that Bactria was as soon peopled, as any Country since the general Deluge. For, it could not have possibly been, that Zoroaster should have raised so mighty an Army in the time of Ninus, who was in suceession but the third Monarch from Nimrod, had Bactria been planted, but by a Colony sent out from Shinaar. The other Staurobates being King of India beyond Indus, was invaded by Semiramis with an army consisting of three Million of footmen, one million of horsemen, beside other mighty Forces both for Land and Sea service; whereof, saith Sir W. Raleigh, if we believe but a third part, it shall suffice to prove, that India was the first 
Sir W. Ra. hist. par. 1. p. 99  Planted and Peopled Country after the Flood. For Staurobates encountered her with an army exceeding her numbers, Staurobates avitis majoribus, quam quae erant Semir amidis copiis, Staurobates drawing together of his own people greater forces then those of Semiramis (saith Diodorus Siculus) defeated her.  
Now though considering the great Troops that Nimrod might bring with him to Babel, as by the building of the City and Tower may appear, the numbers which Semiramis levied might easily grow up, she being the Wife of Ninus, the Son of Belus, who was the Son of Nimrod; it was impossible nevertheless, that the army of Staurobates should exceed hers, had his numbers of Indian's been increased, but by Colonies sent into those parts, so late as the dispersion at Babel and Confusion of Tongues, unless God had raised his Army out of Stones, or by some such miracle. For, not any multiplication natural (to use Sir W. Raleigh's own words) could in such time produce so many bodies of Men, as were in the Indian Army victorious over Semiramis. When then India beyond Indus was in the time of Staurobates so fully peopled by those that remaining with Noah never come down to Shinaar; we need not doubt, but that they had then passed farther also; and as their numbers increased, or desire of new seats invited them, made removes, and sent out Colonies to the more remote parts of Asia, till at length they settled in the remotest CHINA. Which Country that it was originally peopled by some of the posterity of Noah before the enterprise at Babel, Heylin conceives may probably be concluded. 
Heyl. Cosm. pag. 870.  But of this hereafter. In the mean time, I might add for a farther evidence, that those that have written the actions of Alexander of Macedon, assure us, that he found more Cities and Sumptuosities in that little Kingdom of Porus, which lay side by side with the River Indus, than in all his other Travails and Undertake.  
But hereof we have as yet from Heylin somewhat 
Id. pa. 881.  more to say. He then in enumerating the old Inhabitants of India, relateth; that they were originally descended from the Sons of Noah, before they left these Eastern parts, to go towards the unfortunate Valley of Shinaar. We could not else have found this Country so full of people in the days of Semiramis, as that Staurobates to oppose her, could raise of natural Indian's only, an army consisting of greater forces than that she led, and had compounded of several Nations to the number of four millions and upwards. A matter exceeding all credit, though neither could make up a fourth part of that number, if the Indian's had been no other, than some one of those Colonies, which were sent from Babel, or rather a second or third swarm of those former Colonies, which went thence under the command of the first Adventurers. For, that any of the first Adventurers, who were present at the building of the Tower of Babel, travailed so far East, is not affirmed by any, who have laboured in the search of their Plantations. So that I take it for a matter undeniable, that the Plantation of India preceded that of Babel, though by whom made, there is nothing to be said for certain. Yet, saith he, if I might have liberty to express my own conceptions, I am inclinable to believe, that all the Eastern parts of Persia, with CHINA, and bo●…h the Indias, were peopled by such of the Sons of Sem, as went not with the rest to the Valley of Shinaar. For, otherwise I can see no reason, that the posterity of japhet, should plant the greatest part of the lesser Asia, and the whole Continent of Europe with the Isles thereof, and that the Sons of Cham should spread themselves over Babylonia, Palestine, the three Arabia's, and the whole Continent of Africa; the posterity of Sem being shut up in a corner of the greater Asia, hardly so big as some of the Provinces taken up by the other Adventurers. And therefore that an equal latitude may be allowed to the Sons of Sem, I think it not improbable to fix them in these Eastern Countries, spreading themselves this way, as they grew in numbers, before the rest of the Adventurers went to seek out new fortunes at the Tower of Babel. Thus far Heylin. Who hath set no lesle than four considerable remarks, as to our present enquiry after the Plantations made before the dispersion at Babel, in this one and the same Paragraph.  
But here I meet with an objection, that Athanasius Kircherus in his China illustrata asserts, China was peopled by the posterity of Cham, after he come out of Egypt, and therefore could not be planted by any of the Sons of Sem, or before the Confusion at Babel. In answer whereunto, I must take leave to given you Kircherus his own words; by which you will found so slender authority for his Assertion, that you will admire rather, how it was possible so learned a man could ever fancy such a conceit. For, his principal, yea verily in manner his only argument is, that because the Egyptians, who were descended from Cham, used Hieroglyphics; therefore the Chinoes did descend from Cham, because they used Hieroglyphics also. Whereby you may observe, that if the Mexicans want their Ancestors, they may repair to Kircherus, and he will presently inform them, that they come from some of the posterity of Cham because they in like manner as had the Egyptians, have Hieroglyphics in use. But why to confirm his opinion, did he not tell us, that the Hebrews were of the seed of Cham, because they likewise as well as the Egyptians were circumcised? However hear him, Certe ut ad credendum inducar, magni momenti argumentum, sunt veteres is●…i sinensium 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 6. pag. 226  characteres Hieroglyphicorum in omnibus aemuli; Certainly, saith he, that I am induced to believe this, those ancient Characters of the Chinoes in all things imitating Hieroglyphics, are an argument of great validity.  
But Sir W. Raleigh will positively assure you, 
Sir W. Ral. hist. par. 1. pag. 98. A. Sem. Rel. del Cin. par. 1. c. 6.  that the Chinoes had Letters in use long before either the Egyptians or Phaenicians: Semedo will maintain, that they had the same Characters which they use at this day, and which were abstracted from those Hieroglyphics, divers years before Kircherus brings Cham's Plantation into China: Vossius can assert, that they have had the 
Is. Voss. de Aetat. mun. p. 44. M. Mart. Act. Sin. p. i Id. Sin. His l. 1. p. 22.  use of Letters longer by far than any people that ever were: And Martinius makes appear ere long, that for Antiquity in the use of Letters, China excels all other parts of Asia; as also that veteres isti Sinensium characteres Hieroglyphicorum in omnibus aemuli, were invented by the Chinois many ages before the flood. What is more to be said? Kircherus himself (allowing him his own computation) shall acknowledge 
A Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 6. p. 225.  that China was both planted, and these their characters invented some Centuries of years before the dispersion at Babel.  
Now, though this is far more than sufficient to answer the objection, let us see nevertheless, how he conducts his Colony. He tells us then, loco citato, That Cham first out of Egypt through Persia, and thence into Bactria conducted his Colonies, whom we conclude, saith he, to be the same with Zoroaster King of the Bactrians; but Bactria the farthest Region of Persia, is bounded by the Kingdom of the Mogor, or Indostan, and thereby so opportunely scited, that they might easily from thence transfer their Colonies into China, the utmost Nation of the habitable world, together also with the first elements of Letters, which from their Father Cham, and Mercurius Tresmegistus Counsellor of his Son Misraim, and first inventor of Hieroglyphics they had though rudely learned .Now Cham cannot be said to go out of Egypt into Bactria, for after his arrival in Egypt, he never departed thence, but lived and died there in the three hundred fifty second year after the Deluge, as Sir W. Raleigh relates. Heylin hath told us lately, that Bactria was as soon peopled 
Sir W. Ral. hist. par. 1. p. 197, 198.  as any Country since the Universal Flood, otherwise it could not possibly have opposed Ninus with such numbers as it did, if the same had been planted but by a Colony, sent out from Shinaar; much lesle may we say, if it were but first peopled from Egypt, so long time after. For, Sir W. Raleigh finds Cham to have but begun his Kingdom there one hundred ninety one years succeeding the inundation of the world. And as for Mercurius Tres-Megistus, whom the Greeks called Hermes, there were many of this name, and how to distinguish them is difficult. Two of them were famous in Egypt, and there worshipped as Gods. The One (probably here meant) was the son of Hylus, whose name saith Boccase, the Egyptians feared to utter, as the 
Bocc. lib. 7. page, 126, 127.  jews did their Tetragrammaton; the other was the son of this Tres-Megistus, and for his wisdom by his father called Cath; but which of these two it was that taught the Egyptians the use of Letters, Writers much differ; and no lesle also about the Age in which they lived. For Isaackson and others, place them about the time that Abraham was called out of Haran or Charran into the land of Canaan; others suppose the first and most ancient to have been joseph the son of jacob; others again, that he was Moses himself; and Sir W. Raleigh with some Historians found them not to have flourished until the days of Moses; when as the Chinois had enjoyed their now letters at lest five hundred years before.  
It was Sem that inhabited the Country of Asia 
josep. Ant. jud. lib. 1. cap. 7. ●…rch. Pilgrimage, lib. 1. p. 37. G. I Vos. Chron Sac. pa. 52. Aynswor. in Gen. 10.  beginning at Euphrates, and extending to the Indian Ocean sea, saith josephus: To the posterity of Sem befell the parts of Asia from Indaea Eastward, saith Purchas; the Eastern parts of Asia, together with some of the Southern, were peopled by the generations of Sem; saith G. I Vossius. And with these Raleigh, Heylin, and Aynsworth agreed, as you have heard. Whereas Cham and his offspring possessed the South of Asia and Africa, as the same Authors assert.  
Neither could Cham be Zoroaster, it is a fancy, 
Sir W. Ral. hist. par. 1. p. 169.  saith Sir W. Raleigh, of little probability. For Cham was the paternal Ancestor of Ninus, the father of Chus, the grandfather of Nimrod, whose son was Belus, the father of Ninus, which Ninus slew Zoroaster in Bactria, as Historiographers unanimously accord. Wherhfore, and for that Cham never removed out of Egypt after his settlement there, into Bactria; Cham could not be Zoroaster King of the Bactrians, nor from thence ever transferr Colonies into China, as Kircherus would persuade. But in all probability, China was after the Flood first planted either by Noah himself, or some of the sons of Sem, before the remove to Shinaar. For, such Principles of Theology, as among the Chinois, we shall shortly hear of, could not proceed from the wicked and idolatrous race of accursed Cham, but from those only that were, de civitate Dei, of the City of God.  
The most remote parts then of the Eastern World, being planted before the dispersion at Babel; and until the Confusion of Tongues, the whole Earth being of one language and one lip, it must indisputably succeed, that Noah and whosoever remained with him, which come not with the rest to the valley of Shinaar, and consequently by their absence thence, had no hand in that vain attempt, could not be concerned in the Confusion there, nor come within the curse of confounded Languages; but retained the PRIMITIVE Tongue, as having received it from Noah, and likewise carry the same with them to their several Plantations, in what part of the East soever they settled themselves, aswel as Nimrod and his Troops brought it with them to Shinaar. And hence it is, that Goropius saith, Because the Cimmerians were not at the Confusion of Babel, therefore 
G. Beca. Indos. pag. 534.  there is no question to be made, but that their Language was the PRIMITIVE.  
Hence the same Author, Because those that were left behind to plant Margiana, were not at 
Id. pag. 533  the building of the Tower, it must be necessarily acknowledged, in regard the Language was not confined to any, but general to all, aswel unto those at Shinaar, as all people elsewhere, that the ANCIENT Language, which before the Confusion was common to the universal World, remained with those of Margiana. Hence Sir W. 
Sir W. Ral. Histor. par. 1. pag. 158.  Raleigh, it is conjectured, that those of the race of Sem which come into Chaldaea, were of Nimrod's Troop, and removed with him thither: yet, in regard they were no partners in the unbelieving work of the Tower, therefore they did retain the first and most ancient Language, which the first Age had left to Noah, and Noah to Sem and his Issues Hence Heylin also, That some Plantations 
Heyl. Cosm. p. 7.  had no reference to the Confusion of Tongues, being made before it, on the sending out of such Colonies, as were nearest to the place, where the Ark did rest. But how general soever the consent is, what needeth profane testimony; when sacred History plainly teacheth us, That the Language of These only that were at Babel was confounded, and not of Those that were absent thence, and not guilty of that misbelieving work. The words of the holy Penman, Gen. 11. v. 5, 6, 7, 8. are. And the Lord come down to see the City, and the Tower, which the Children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one Language, and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and THERE confounded THEIR Language, that THEY may not understand one another's Speech. So the Lord scattered THEM abroad from THENCE upon the face of all the Earth, and they left of to build the City.  
Which can admit no other construction, than that the Language of Th●…se, that were THERE, that is, at that place in Babylonia, not in India or elsewhere was confounded. So in like manner THEIR Language, i e. Their Language that were with Nimrod, and of this Western Colony; not the Language of Noah, and his Plantations in the East. Again also, That THEY, to wit, those children of men, that built the Tower; not those generations that had no hand in building of the same, might not understand one another's speech.  
Furthermore, the Lord scattered THEM abroad from THENCE, Which, saith Sir 
Sir W. Ral. par. 1. pag. 104.  W. Raleigh, hath no other sense, but that the Lord scattered THEM, viz. those that built this Tower, for those were from THENCE (to wit, Babel) dispersed into all the Regions of the North and South, and to the Westward. The East being inhabited before.  
But let us consider the Context. The Scene was the valley of Shinaar; They found a plain in the land of Shinaar, and they dwelled there. v. 2. The Offenders were Nimrod and his Troops; And they said, Go to, let us build us a City and a Tower, whose top may reach unto Heaven, and let us make us a name, jest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole Earth. ver. 4. The fear of a Judgement brought a Judgement upon them. And as the Offenders were those only at Shinaar, so the Language of those only at Shinaar was confounded. Go to, let us go down (saith the Lord) and there confounded their Language, that they may not understand one another's speech. v. 7 The punishment being justly inflicted, where only the offence lay, and upon those solely that had offended. No man shall answer for another's fault: it is both the Law and Gospel. The soul that sinneth, it shall die, Ezech. 18. v. 20. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whither it he good or bad; 2 Corinth. cap. 5. v. 10. And I must not omit that the marginal notes of our Bible, for the more clear exposition of the Text we are upon, refer us to the Wisdom of Solomon, cap. 10. v. 5. where it is written; Moreover, the Nations in their wicked conspiracy being confounded, She [Wisdom] found out the righteous, and preserved him blameless unto God, and kept him strong against the tender compassion of his son. Whereby, though it may be conceived, that in the particular, this alludes unto Abraham his sacrificing of Isaac; yet in the general, it is most evident, most certain thereby, that Those only that had offended in the conspiracy of the building of the Tower, had their Language confounded, and were convicted by that Judgement.  
Thus from Scripture and approved History hath been made appear, That the Ark rested in the East; That Noah planted not far from the place, where it took ground; and from thence by himself, and his offspring, that abode with him, peopled the Eastern parts of the World, together with China; and that these Plantations were undertaken and settled before the remove to Shinaar, and Confusion of Tongues, by those that never come at Babel; and could not therefore be ingagaged in that presumptuous work. But who they were of his offspring that Noah kept with him, whither of the sons of joctan, or of all the rest a certain number (Cham and his issue only excepted) cannot, saith Sir W. Raleigh, be known. Nevertheless 
Sir W. Ral. Hist. par. 1. pag. 101.  we are not to doubt, but that their numbers were so great, as not only sufficed to husband those Plantations that Noah had settled, but also to sand forth Colonies elsewhere, as occasion required.  
The Scripture also plainly declareth, That the curse of Confounded Languages fell upon those only that were present upon the place at Babel, and personally acted in that ungodly design there. And therefore we may warrantably conclude, That either the PRIMITIVE Language is to be found among those Plantations that were made before the Babylonian Enterprise, by those that were absent thence, and had not offended therein; or else it cannot be appropriated to any Nation now extant in the World, or at this day known. For, as the people at Babel, that had solely offended, were therefore from Shinaar scattered throughout all the other parts of the un-inhabited Earth; so only the Language which they brought with them thither, was there for their offence confounded; and, as is conceived, divided into several other Languages, passing at this day among us by the name of MOTHER-Tongues, which that they were seventy two in number, he that hath a mind to please himself with believing it, shall not displease me.  
Now here, Heylin is so courteous, as to befriend 
Heyl. Cosm. pag. 17.  me with an Objection. That admitting it for granted, that those who stayed behind with Noah, spoke the same Language which was common to the Fathers before the Flood (be it the Hebrew or what else soever it was) there seems no reason to the contrary, but that it might in time be branched into several Languages or Dialects of the same one Language, by the Commerce and Intercourse which they had with Nations of a different speech. To which, is thus answered, That not only Commerce and Intercourse, but also Time and Conquest may possibly 'cause the alteration of a Language, yet in regard that Conquests are of divers kinds, and Intercourse and Commerce of different natures, such alteration cannot be effected by every manner of Commerce and Conquests.  
For, on the one side, where an Invader enters a Country with a resolution wholly to dispossess and expel the Natives, it inevitably follows, that the speech of that Country, must, being subdued, receive such an absolute change, as that no other, than that which the Conqueror brings with him can remain. And thus we found, it succeeded at the conquest of the Land of Canaan by the Israelites; who generally, expelling the Canaanites, introduced their own Language (whatever it were) and extirpated the former. Where also an Invader hath made such a full Conquest, as that he can clear, or (as I may say) drive the Country, and carry away the whole body of the Natives into captivity, there, no doubt is to be made, but that the Language of the vanquished must undergo a manifest alteration. And thus we found that in so short a time as the captivity of Babylon, those of judah had in such manner lost their speech, as at their return home, they could not understand the Book of their own Laws, but by an Interpreter. Nehem. cap. 8. v. 7. 8.  
But on the other side, where the Invader enters, to possess new dwellings, and plant himself and people; when he neither carries the Natives elsewhere into captivity, nor utterly expels them, the old Language of that Country cannot be extirpated; but may be altered, and by the mixture with new comers after long tract of time, become generally a new kind of speech. Thus the invasions of the Huns, Goths, and Longobards, and their Conquests, brought a new Language into Italy. And thus the Goths and Vandals, Saracens and Moors into Spain. So likewise where a foreign Enemy, out of an ambitious desire of Fame and Glory, and for eternising his name invades a Country, and having obtained a victory, upon a certain tribute condescended unto by the Natives, for acknowledgement of subjection, acquitteth it again, there it is impossible, the speech of that Country should be changed. For, it cannot be imagined, that the Kingdom of Porus, into which Alexander the Great not sooner leapt, than leapt out of it again, could by such a conquest, have the Language thereof, either altered or corrupted. In like manner, the conquests of the French in Italy, not more altered the Italian Tongue, than our Invasions of Scotland, did the Pictish, or Scottish speech.  
There is moreover another kind of Conquest, where the Victor takes up the Manners and Customs of the vanquished, and transporteth into his own Country the Language, Arts, and Sciences of those that he hath overcome. For the Romans together with their victory over Greece, brought home with them, Sculpture, Painting, and the Language of that People also; which Plutarch in the life of M. Cato telleth us, most of the Romans studied. Yet we found not, that the Latin Tongue was corrupted, but rather refined thereby; and if it were refined, then it was altered, for every refining is changing. But, this some will perhaps say, is directly contrary to what is objected: for, here in this case, not the Language of the vanquished by the Conqueror, but the Language of the Conqueror by the vanquished comes to receive an alteration. After the same manner, by their conquests in Asia, the Romans learned luxury and riot, to wear silk, and live effeminately; the Asiatiques in the mean time composing themselves to the ancient temperance, frugality and discipline of their Lords and Masters the Romans. Thus also we found, that the Macedonians long before, when they had conquered Persia, become not only in Language and Attire, but also in Discipline and Customs Persians' rather, than the Persians', Macedonians. And this oftentimes happeneth, as all History informs, where the Conqueror is either barbarous, or not in such a degree civilised, as those that are subdued by him. Or else efflated by success, wholly gives himself over to licentiousness, disdaining the manners of his native Country.  
As for Time, it may, having especially Commerce its attendant, prevail somewhat herein. For, we ourselves can scarcely now understand the Language that was used in the days of Chaucer. And yet nevertheless we know, that the Latin Tongue, hath from Caesar's time, maugre all conquests and intercourse whatsoever, received not the lest alteration, but remaineth both in the Characters and reading the same, as then. and is as generally, if not better understood, in these days, than it was fifteen hundred years since.  
Lastly, concerning Intercourse and Commerce, it is true, that in such a Nation, where a general Commerce is permitted, and free access granted to all Strangers to trade and inhabit, aswel in the Inland parts of the Country; as upon the Frontiers or Seacoasts, there a change of Language may by degrees hap. And we need not go far for Example. For, with us ourselves, by this means chief, the Saxon Tongue, since the time of the Normans is utterly lost. Insomuch that what by Latinizing, Italianizing, Frenchizing, and [as we must have it called forsooth,] Refinizing, or rather Non-sencizing, our old Language is so corrupted and changed, that we are so far from Saxonizing, as we have scarcely one significant word of our MOTHER speech left.  
But on the contrary, where Commerce is made, and intercourse allowed, upon the Seacoasts and Frontiers only, there we found the Language of the Natives in the Inland parts, to remain without suffering any alteration. Hence Caesar telleth us, that he found some footsteps of the Gaulish Language upon the coast of Britain, when within the land (though he advanced not far) the British Tongue was spoken purely. And hence in Ise-and, though about four hundred years since conquered by the Norvegians, in regard there is little access of strangers, but only as some part of the Maritime shores affordeth; as also because they suffer not their unexperienced youth to travail abroad into other Countries, the old Runique or Gothique Tongue in manner yet continueth, and is by divers of the Inhabitants understood, when in all the Septentrional World besides, it is utterly forgotten and extinct. But what shall we say of the Basquish or ancient Language of Spain? which notwithstanding all the Invasions of the Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Vandals, Moors remaineth yet pure in Biscay, whatever Commerce and Intercourse soever that Country hath in all times enjoyed. Insomuch that the Inhabitants upon one side of the River running from the mountains of Ordunia to Bilboa, and which carries the Iron-mills, speaking the MOTHER Language, understand not one word, unless by an Interpreter, what those on the other side of the same River say. What of the Irish Tongue? which Country, although we have kept under subjection by lawful conquest, neare five hundred years, settled many Plantations therein, and permitted continually free Commerce, yet nevertheless the natural Language of the Country continueth throughout most parts of that Kingdom pure and untainted at this day. And which is remarkable, if a child born of English Parents there, and as curiously overseen as possibly a child can be from hearing of the Native Irish speak, chance to hear but one word of that Language, he will sooner remember the same, and be apt to repeat it again, than he shall any one word of English, though twenty times spoken before him. What of the old British Tongue? since that through all the conquests of the Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans, and after unlimited conversation with most Nations of the World, it hath passed currant, and is yet remaining in Wales. In like manner, the Arabic continueth incorrupt in the hilly pares of Granata: and the ancient Epirotique in the high, woody, and more mountainous parts of Epirus.  
By all which it appeareth, That not any kind of Conquest can wholly altar or extirpate the natural Language of a people, except by generally expelling the Natives, or transplanting them elsewhere. And that Commerce and Intercourse where a mixture of several Nations is wholly permitted, may in long tract of Time produce an absolute alteration; but where tolerated on the Seacoasts or confines of a Country only, can neither altar a Language, nor branch it into several Dialects of the same, but may possibly in those places corrupt it, whilst the Inland parts nevertheless enjoy purely their MOTHER Tongue.  
When then it is reputed ridiculous to hear that Adam spoke Dutch in Paradise: And when we consider, that the Hebrews have no surer foundation to erect their Language upon, than only a bore Tradition of their own, which we all know is so infamous an Historian; as Wisemen neither report after it, nor given credit to any thing they receive from it: As also that the Samaritans by their often removes were but a mongrel people, and in regard of their continual commerce with Nations of a different speech; and the many storms and tempests of Wars and Conquests, which they were always subject to, have but a mongrel Language; for though it hath, as is not to be denied, some proper and peculiar words of its own, nevertheless it oftentimes useth the Arabic, and in forming of Nouns and Verbs, sometimes follows the Hebrew, sometimes the Chaldaean, wherewith it is of great affinity. And though they may have had, as they pretend, the Pentateuch of Moses written in a strange Character, the Samaritan, as they call it, yet their having had it in their custody contributes not an jota to the Antiquity of their speech, or that it should have anciently been the PRIMITIVE Tongue, in regard those Characters not much differ from the modern Hebraique, unless where either by the negligence of the Scribe, or variety of the Copies, some diversity appears; as our famous Doctor Brian Walton, late Bishop of Chester in his Introduction to the 
B. Walt. Intr. ad Ling. Or. p. 18, 19  reading of the Oriental Tongues hath very learnedly observed: And when in like manner we consider, that it cannot with any probability of Truth be resolved, that the Phoenicians, who are generally supposed to be the wicked offspring of accursed Cham, the principal Actors, and Offenders in that daring conspiracy at Babel, should enjoy so great a privilege, as to carry away with them, and be enfranchised to that Sacred Language, which even in the time of innocency was spoken between God and Man: Why may we not reflect upon the CHINOIS? For we shall make appear, that They were primitively planted in CHINA, if not by Noah himself, by some of the Issue of Sem, before the remove of Nimrod to Shinaar, and the Confusion of Tongues at Babel; Their Language to be the self same at this day, as when they were first planted and began to be a people; Their Country never subject to any such conquest, as could prejudice, but rather dilate their language; Their Laws in all times to have prohibited foreign Commerce and Intercourse; and Their dominions ever shut up against strangers, never permitting any to set footing within Their Empire, unless by way of Embassy solely; nor suffering Their own Natives to travail abroad without especial licence from their Emperor: So jealous have they evermore been, jest Their Language and Customs should be corrupted. Considering which, together with their infinite multitudes of People, and perpetual flourishing in Peace, and all Arts and Sciences, whilst every Nation almost throughout the whole Universe besides, have more than once in time been overrun and conquered; it may with much probability be asserted, That the Language of the Empire of CHINA, is, the PRIMITIVE Tongue, which was common to the whole World before the Flood; and that it could never be branched into several Languages, or Dialects of the same one Language, by the Commerce and Intercourse which they had with Nations of a different speech; when they never had Commerce or Intercourse with any. Nor were ever known to these parts of the World (scarcely to their adjoining Neighbours) till about an hundred and fifty years since, by the Portugals and Spaniards they were discovered.  
But I found St. Hierome, and others that follow him, object, That the Hebrew was the PRIMITIVE Language, in regard that all the proper names of men before the Deluge, and immediately after the same appear to be naturally Hebrew. And that it was necessary the Sacred Scripture should be delivered in that Language, which Adam and the rest used before the Flood. To which the answer is obvious, that the Names might be first imposed in the PRIMITIVE Language, and that it was an easy matter for the succeeding Ages, understanding by Tradition what they meant, to transferr them into the Hebrew Tongue; whereby also the Names of men might equally answer to the Names of places, which otherwise they could not do; for throughout the whole course of the Books of Moses and joshuah it is manifest, that the names of the Places and Cities of Canaan, the ancient names, I mean, by which they were called before ever the Israelites come to devil in them, were Hebrew names. Neither was there any more necessity, that the sacred Oracles of God should be written in the first and most perfect speech, than for CHRIST to be born of the most honourable and richest Parents, and live in the most splendid and delicious manner. For, that the World might know, man is not to attribute any thing to his own merits or greatness, but that God giveth all his Grace gratis, he hath ever chosen humble and lowly Ministers of his Grace. Thus of Abraham the son of an Idolater, and maker of Idols, he made choice, to be the first founder of Circumcision. And so ordained, that CHRIST himself, when he was to be born should scarcely have a roof to shelter him, when he newly come out of his Mother's womb, from the inclemency of the Air. And when CHRIST come to redeem us from sin and death, he elected not, those, to preach his Gospel throughout the World, that were of the Schools of the Philosophers, or of Demosthenes or Cicero, but made choice of rude men, of a rude manner of life, Fishermen, and Boatmen to be the Heralds for proclaiming of his Victory. Neither was it any King or Monarch, but an Abject, who was cast forth and exposed to the mercy of cruel waves, and cruelty of merciless Crocodiles, that delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. And if we run throughout all, throughout all we shall found, those to have pleased God most, that are want to displease men most. There is no reason therefore any should think that so contrary to the doctrine of God, either the Typical Law or the fulfilling of the Law should be given in that Language which all others excelled. But, as the fulfilling of the Law, which relateth chief to the Gentiles, was written in the Greek Tongue; because that Language being, as it were, then generally known, the Nations might by reading it, the sooner be converted, and brought within the sheepfold of CHRIST. So no doubt, the Typical Law, wherein the Church of the Israelites was solely concerned, was written, not in the PRIMITIVE, but for their better instruction, in the old Hebrew Tongue, which Abraham brought, not out of Chaldaea, but learned in the land of Canaan, whereby it become the Language of his Posterity, and by them was vulgarly spoken, until, as some will have it, their Captivity. And this the Scripture doth in direct terms testify; when upon the calling of the Egyptians it is said. In that day shall five Cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of Hosts. Isai. 19 v. 18. By which we are taught, that the Egyptians should not only be brought to offer the same sacrifices and oblations to the LORD, as the Israelites did, but speak the same speech with them also, which was the Language of the land of Canaan. From whence we will at present depart, to enter upon our travail into CHINA.  
MARTINUS Martinius in his famous Chinique 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. pag. 1.  Atlas, after his much celebrating of Asia in general, for having been the place of our first Parents, and Paradise, and original of all things, proceedeth to the Antiquities of the Empire of CHINA, in particular, after this manner. But of Asia itself, saith he, there is no part (at lest since the universal Deluge) more Noble, more Ancient, or more fertile than this extreme part thereof, whither Politic Government, the use of Letters, or Industry be respected. For, the History of it by the Chinois themselves even from all Antiquity written, comprehendeth almost three thousand years before the birth of CHRIST, as more evidently by the Epitome and Chronology collected out of their Annals appears. Ever since which time they are said to have had Letters, Moral Philosophy, and Mathematical Sciences especially; which both their more than Antique observations of the Stars, and those Laws of Government written in most anciently ancient Volumes; and at these very times extant, more than sufficiently show and declare. In the Epistle Dedicatory of his Atlas he premiseth thus, In these Maps, I present unto your view the situation and limits of the most vast Empire of the Chinois, equal almost unto all Europe. It hath ever since the Flood of Noah, been inhabited by a most industrious and civil people but hitherto wholly inaccessible to Strangers, until now at last for the salvation of Souls, after great trouble and anxiety those of my Society, saith he, have gained entrance thereinto.  
Isaacus Vossius (of whom our famous Dr. Ʋsher 
Is. Voss. de Aetat. Mun. pag. 44.  late Archbishop of Armagh, gives so clear a testimony, that we are obliged to acknowledge him a most learned man) in his dissertation of the true Age of the world, having discoursed of those Nations, that are the greatest pretenders to Antiquity, as the Hebrews, Samaritans, Chaldeans. and Egyptians, brings up the Chinois in the rear, and of them delivers his testimony after these words. Let us now come to those, that not so much by their own, as the name of their neighbours are called Chinois. I mean, saith he, the Serians. A race of men by far the most skilled in letters of all the people that ever were. They preserve a continued History compiled from their monuments, and annual exploits of four thousand five hundred years. Writers they have more ancient than even Moses himself. Ever since their beginning to be a Nation, they have never been corrupted by intercourse with strangers, nor ever known what wars and contentions meant; but addicted only to quietness, delight, and contemplation of Nature, have run through the space (plusquam) of more than four thousand years, unknown indeed to other Nations, but enjoying to themselves their own felicity at pleasure.  
Now, in regard Vossius names them Serians, I 
M. Mart. Atl Sin. pag. 1.  am compelled before proceeding farther to certify, that this outmost Region of the known World, which Martinius calls the extrreme part of Asia, is by some called Serica, Sina, or Chinois by others, by the Tartars Cathay and Mangin, and which every man wondersat, not any of all these names, is at all known unto the Chinois themselves,, that of Mangin excepted, the Tartars having ironically in derision put that upon them, as scoffing at their being over arrogant and proud of their civilities; for Margin in the Tartarian Tongue signifies barbarous people. But the Chinois call their Empire Chunghoa, and Chunghue, either name, saith Martinius, being imposed for the excellency thereof. This expressing the middle Kingdom (they supposing themselves to be scited in the middle of the World) That signifies the middle Garden or Flower rather. But how much these mysterious reasons of Names may import their Language to be the PRIMITIVE Tongue, I shall leave unto Martinius, Goropius, and others, ere our discourse brings us to a period, to acquaint you.  
But seeing Martinius referred us to his Epitome 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 1. p. 12▪  of the History of China, we are not to neglect him therein. Illud pro certo compertum, Sinemsem de diluvio Historiam non multum à Noctico abesse, quippe quae ter mille circi●…er annis vulgarem Christi Ep●…cham praegreditur. It is for certain, saith he, That the Chinique History that mentioneth the Deluge reacheth not far from the Flood of Noah, for it precedeth the birth of CHRIST according to the vulgar computation about three thousand years.  
Now, for that we are to make great use of Martinius his Authority, I conceive it not impertinent to let you know, that he professeth, after his having lived many years among the Chinois, to have with great care and long study epitomised their History from their Original Annals, and innumerable their other Books, yet extant even at this day among them from their first beginning to be a Nation. And to have brought it down with all clearness and integrity to the incarnation of CHRIST, and since, to these times also, though that part thereof, we are not so happy, as to have yet made public.  
In this their History from the time of the Flood, he very much inclineth to repose an assured 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. Epist. ad L●…t.  confidence, telling us in his Epistle to the Reader, That the fidelity thereof is so much the more warrantable, as that the Chinois for themselves only writ the same; either contemning or not knowing foreign Nations; so that, seeing they neither regarded to please Strangers, nor boast of their own actions, they had no occasion to deliver untruths or report Fables. So much the lesle because they have no Nobility either for Antiquity of birth or time to flatter. Every the poorest man among them, if deserving it by his learning, being capable of the highest preferment. Hence it proceeds, saith he, that about their History there are no controversies or disputes with them, no difference in the succession of their Emperors, nor genealogies of their Royal families, of which nevertheless among us so little care is taken, that every Chronologer almost differeth from another.  
Now, though Martinius hath this opinion of 
Id: p. 12▪  the sincerity of their Annals since the time of the Flood; yet as to the Age preceding the same, the Chinois themselves given little or no credit to what is related in them, during their Government by the heads of Families, but from the time they began to be ruled by a Monarch, of which, opportunity serving, we shall take farther notice, and at present advice you only. That whereas by their History it appears Fortrius who was their first Monarch began his reign over them, about three thousand years before the birth of CHRIST, after the common Chronology, Martinius tells us, that the credit thereof must rest at their own doors, for a matter of such moment he will not take upon him to decide; in regard it consents not with the judgement of our Chronologers, that assign a much lesle space of time from the Flood of Noah. Yet nevertheless, saith he, the opinion of the Chinois seems not on 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 1. p. 13.  every side to be rejected: Several of the Chronologers of Europe favour it; the Seventy Interpreters make for it, so also Sam satenus and others, neither doth the Roman Martyrologue, or computation of the Greeks much descent therefrom.  
But harken unto Vossius; (Martinius consenting 
Is. Vos. d●… 〈◊〉. Mun p. 46. 4●…. M. Mart. Atl. Sin. pag. 26▪  with him) Miranda artis & naturae opera quae ex hujus regni cognitione ad nos perl●…ta sa●…, non est hujus loci recensere. Ea saltem referemus quae de annis & antiquitate gentis comperimus, Serum itaque tempus historicum incipit annis ante natum Christum 2847. The wondered works both of Nature and Art, which, saith he, by the discovery of this Empire, are arrived at our knowledge, this is no place to mention. We shall relate at lest what we found of the Age and Antiquity of the Nation. The Historical time therefore of the Serians gins two thousand and eight hundred forty seven years before CHRIST was born. This said, and having afterwards computed from the said time, the several reigns of their Emperor's according to their several families, he thus concludes, A principio itaque regni Serum, usque ad finem praesentis anni, qui est 1658 post Christum natum, colliguntur in universum anni 4505. From the beginning therefore of the Sirian Empire unto the end of this present year one thousand six hundred fifty eight after the birth of CHRIST, are numbered in the total four thousand five hundred five years. Whereby appears, that according to the vulgar Aera, which Martinius follows, and which makes from the Creation to the Flood of Noah one thousand six hundred fifty six years; and from thence to the coming of CHRIST into the World two thousand two hundred ninety four years; the Historical time of the Chinois gins several Ages, to wit, five hundred fifty three years before the Universal Deluge, computing to the year one thousand six hundred fifty eight: as Vossius doth.  
Alvarez Semedo, a diligent Author for his time, 
Al. Som. 〈◊〉. del. Cin. par. 1. cap. 22.  as writing his relation of China about thirty rears since; discoursing of the first Emperors thereof wholly omits Fotrius, with his five Successors till jaus, the better to dispense with their Chronology before the Flood, of which he seems to have no great opinion: the most favourable judgement he will allow thereof, being that their Emperor jaus might precede that destruction twelve years. And though he saith, there may be a mis-computation thereby in the History of this Emperor, and his Successors Xunus, and Ynus; he doth nevertheless assure us, that the matters related of them, are very coherent with their Successions. His words being; Ad ogni modo, bench via sia errore nel tempo, dall'historia di questo Imperatore e seguenti, è certo che le coz vanno coherenti con le loro successioni. He tells us also, that these three Emperors are by the Chinois reputed Saints, of whom they relate many things, and that certainly there is no doubt to be made, but that they were great Philosophers, and much inclined to moral virtue.  
But in regard Martinius in his Tartarian War premiseth, that he hath in his Atlas of China deduced and taken their History from their own ancient Records ever since the time of Noah. We therefore beginning also at the Deluge, will now return to their Antiquity.  
Of the Deluge their Writers make much mention, but of the original and cause thereof, as can yet be found, they given not any account. Which therefore whither it were that of Noah, or some other peculiar to the Chinois, as the Ogygian anciently in A●…ica, or the Deucalionian in Thessaly appears not. For which a manifest reason may be given, because they have always reputed themselves to be the only great people of the World; and that it contained either few or no other Nations besides themselves, and those generally so contemptible, as that they held them scarcely worthy the conquering, much lesle enquiring after what successes or calamities befell them. And therefore with our Authors, I am very much resolved to believe, that, that flood which happened in China in the time of jaus their seventh Empeeror, was the universal flood. For our Chronologers of Europe refer the flood of Noah to the very reign of this Emperor, and the Chinois themselves in their Annals relate, that during his government great numbers of People flocked into their Country; and that at the same time it was drowned, and overflown with waters, which were brought in by the Deluge, Eas Author Sinicus ait diluvio invectas, saith Martinius in the life of jaus. Considering which together with the coherence of Time, this Deluge that thus drowned China could certainly be no other, than that, that drowned the whole World besides. And the flocking in of those people thither in such numbers, seemeth much to confirm the same. For thereby is evidently discovered as well the great fears, that generally at last, possessed all Nations, as the hopes they had by their flying out of the low and champain Regions adjoining, to avoid and escape the threatening danger, upon the great and high mountains, that run throughout, and as it were surround the Chinique World.  
But let us see how our Author proceedeth. 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. Lib. 1. p. 39  And because that under this Emperor mention is made of the gathering together of waters, which the History of China calleth the Deluge; and that the European Chronologers from more certain grounds (from the computation of Moses he might as well have said) reduced the flood of Noah to the time of this Emperor. I could, saith Martinius, easily grant that all the History of the Chinois to this very time, is either fabulous, or comprehends those things, which happened before the flood, whereof the memory might happily be preserved in the Ark. For that many other things, which appertain also to our faith, were vindicated from oblivion, and utter destruction even in the same place, is the opinion of learned men. He farther telleth us, That this extreme part of Asia, whereof we treat, was for certain inhabited before the flood. But by what means the memory of things could be preserved there, when all mankind was wholly destroyed, if we have not recourse to the family of Noah, is to me, saith the same Author unknown. Hear 
Id. pag. 21.  him. Han●… enim, qua describo, extremam Asiam, ante Diluvium habitatam fuisse pro certo habeo▪ verum quo pacio fuerit rerum servata memoria, humano genere omni, si à Noëtica familia discesseris, penitus deleto, mibi non liquet. And if it should be objected, They might receive the memery of their actions more ancient, than the flood by Tradition; that Tradition also must be acknowledged either from Noah himself, or some of his sons to have proceeded.  
Of all the Provinces of China, Xensi for Antiquity hath the pre-eminence; in regard the first of Mortals, that ever set footing in China after the Deluge, planted, and took up their first seats within this Province. To which purpose 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. pag. 43.  Martinius in his Chorography thereof affirms; That by just right this most noble Province of Xensi, may with all others the chiefest of this extreme part of Asia, for greatness and Antiquity contend; for, from times of old, it hath been the seat of almost all the Chinique Emperors, even from the very original of the Chinois, until the exit of the family of Hana, which happened two hundred sixty four years after the nativity of CHRIST. And that this Province also, was the first, as by their most ancient Annals appears, which was inhabited by the first Planters of China; and that from the West drawing more into the East, They come thither shortly after the general Deluge of the World; I am▪ saith he, from many and those most convincing arguments certainly persuaded.  
Observe in like manner, what jean Nieuhoff in the late Embassage of the Oriental Company of the United Provinces of the Netherlandss to the Emperor of China relateth. This Province of Xensi, saith Nieuhoff, is so famous, that for grandeur 
I Nieuh. 〈◊〉 Amb. Or. par. 1. pag. 244.  and Antiquity, it may by just right dispute with all the Provinces of the Higher Asia; for the Emperors of China, have from all times since the Universal Flood, kept their Imperial residence therein, until the reign of the Family of Hana. If Xensi then be the most ancient Country of the upper Asia, as Nieuhoff positively asserts; and if of the upper Asia, Babylon be a Country, as all Geographers unanimously affirm, it follows indisputably, that Xensi is more ancient than Babylon, and consequently received a Colony into it, before Nimrod and his Troops come into the valley of Shinaar.  
Now if the credit of their Annals before th●… flood, should be suspected by us, as they are by the Chinois themselves before the reign of their Emperor Folins, we may probably conceive that Puoncuus whom they report to be their first Governor, was the very Conductor of that Colony, that after the Deluge, and before the Confusion of Tongues first come and planted China. Neither 
M. Mar●… Sin. Hist. Lib. 1. p. 17.  is authority wanting for the same. Indidem licet conjicere omissis argumentis aliis, Puoncuum & Socios a cessatione Diluvii, imo ante Turris Babylonicae molitionem ad Sinas venisse; From whence it may be lawful, saith Martinius, to conceive, setting other arguments aside, that Puoncuus and his Associates from the cessation of the flood, yea, before the Enterprise of the Babylonian Tower, come into Cbina. When then China was planted from the cessation of the flood, it could not but be much more peopled, ere the Tower was set in hand, and far more before the Confusion of Tongues. For Authors are of opinion, that in regard of the vast greatness of the Foundations, and inestimable quantities of materials requirable for the raising of such a prodigious work, in such a low and moorish a Country, as Babylonia could not but as then be, Nimrod and his Confederates 
Sir W. Ral. hist. par. 1. pag. 100  consumed forty years, before the judgement of confounded Languages dissolved their work, and dispersed them.  
But from these his reservations, it may be much suspected, that Martinius in his own thoughts, had an higher opinion of this people, than he deemed fitting to be vulgarly made known. And hence happily it is, that Vossius saith, Chorographiae Sericae interpres, vir minime 
I Voss. de Aetat. Mun. pag. 45.  ineptus, multo moderatius de gentis hujus virtutibus scripsit, quam sensit; The Interpreter of the Chinique Chorography, a man that very well understood himself, writ far more moderately of the perfections of this people, than he thought. And therefore had Martinius, having in manner from his cradle to his grave studied their Antiquities, written what he thought, and declaring his mind plainly, vouchsafed us those other Arguments he hath concealed, much more no doubt might have been discovered towards the clearing of what ensueth.  
For, whither Puoncuus was the Ringleader of this first Colony or not, it may be very much presumed, that Noah himself both before and after the Deluge lived in China. josephus attesteth, that Noah having warning of the flood given him 
josep. Ant. jud. lib. 1. cap. 4.  from God, seeing his persuasions to repentance and amendment of life, could work no effect upon the Corruption of the Age, and fearing by the violence of the times to perish for his zeal, departed from his native soil, and with his wife and children traveled into another Country. Secedens cum suis in aliam regionem migravit, saith josephus. Now, why might not this other Region into which Noah retired be China? And that confluence of people (which you lately heard of) resort thither, out of desire upon the report of his piety to hear him preach, the better to be prepared against the approaching rvine? For it seems they repaired thither not only in regard of the flood, but also excited by the Fame of the virtues of jaus and his uprightness, throwing themselves upon his protection as into their father's bosom, in such numbers that the then Chinique Empire scarcely sufficed to contain them. From whence we may moreover observe, that the greater the thronging in of their numbers was, the greater probability there is, they thronged in thither, in hope to save themselves from the Deluge. Considering especially, that the Chinique History recordeth, their Country was at that time destroyed by waters, and therefore Martinius is clearly of opinion, that these were either the waters of Noah's flood, which for a long time after kept the plains and lower places of this extreme part of Asia overflown, or China was drowned by a peculiar inundation. Hear him. Ego malim credere, à No●…tica inundatione superstites in extremae hujus Asiae planitie, locisque depressioribus resedisse; aut peculiari ●…luvie Sinas inundatos. But that this Deluge in China was not a peculiar, but the universal Deluge, he himself hath verily persuaded. Hear with him, Semedo also, maintaining, Pensano alcui che quell acque 
A. Sem. Rel. del Cin. par. 1. pag. 22.  erano reliquie del diluvio, That some believe these waters were those that remained of the Deluge, though of their original & increase the Chinique History is silent. Hear Vossius likewise confidently 
I Vos. de Aetat. Mun. p. 52.  affirming, Secundum enim nostrum calculum diluvium Sert●…um exact cum Noachico convenit, for according to our calculation, saith he, the Sirian Deluge agrees exactly with the flood of Noah. And it is not to be omitted, that jaus, time being opportune, setting in hand to clear the Country of the Encumbrances which the flood had made, caused the Channels and mouths of the Rivers choked up, as Martinius conceiveth, by the mud and sand which the violence of the Rains of the Noetique inundation had brought down, to be opened, and with banks and trenches brought within bounds, about which either through the want of skill in those that he employed, or hands in that newness of the World to assist him, long time was consumed, and not until after many years. during the reigns of his two next ensuing Successors brought to perfection in the end. For the Chinois attribute extraordinary Merit unto Yuus for the Adjusting of these Waters, as they call it.  
It being then thus, Why might not that other Region into which Noah withdrew, be China? And this jaus, or Yaus (for I found the word both by Martinius, Kircherus, and others indifferently used) be that janus (the middle Letter Nadded only, gives us the very name, and to cut of the middle Letter, yea, the middle Syllable oftentimes in the proper names of men is and ever hath been usually in the Eastern Languages done) be that janus, I say, whom most Authors maintain was Noab? The History that relateth to him, is by Nieuhoff, but Martinius chief, set down in the life of Yaus, and some circumstances 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 106. M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 〈◊〉. p. 3●….  attending it in the reign of his Predecessors; and which as in the most compendious manner, I have thought fitting to present unto you, by the way of Parallel, thus.  
First, Noah had his name from the Comfort his father hoped to receive by him: and jaus had his name of the Happiness his father hoped should proceed from him.  
Secondly, Noah was so just and righteous a man, as that he surmounted all others of his Age: And jaus so excelled in piety and virtue, as that he surpassed all others of his time.  
Thirdly, Noah was a Preacher, and taught the ways of God. And jaus was a Divine, and ordained sacred Rites, and prayers unto God.  
Fourthly, Noab was an Husbandman; and jaus prescribed rules of Husbandry to his people.  
Fifthly, In the days of Noah the whole World was drowned, and in the days of jaus the whole World was drowned.  
Sixthly, Before the flood of Noah, was a Conjunction of all the Planets in one Sign; and before the flood of jaus was the like Conjunction of all the Planets.  
Seventhly, The son of Noah, Cham, was a reprobate, and therefore by Noah made a servant to his brethrens; and the son of jaus, Chus, was a reprobrate, and therefore by jaus excluded from succession in the Empire.  
Eighthly and lastly, the Deluge of Noah happened in the year before CHRIST two thousand two hundred ninety four; and the Deluge that destroyed China in the time of jaus agrees perfectly therewith; for he began his reign there, in the year before CHRIST two thousand three hundred fifty seven.  
Before the time of Moses the name of jehovah, or rather Haiah, as Bayly in his Practice of Piety observes, was never known unto the Israelites. And those are not wanting that suppose, that name was derived from this jaus. However the 
Purch. Pilgrimage, lib. 2. pag. 138.  Samaritans, as I found in Purchas, begin their Chronicle after this manner. In the name of jah, the God of Israel; there is noon like to jah our God, one jehova, God of God's, Lord of Lords, a great God strong and terrible. jah is is my strength and song, saith Moses in praising God for the preservation of Israel from the danger of Pharaoh, Exod. 15. v. 2. Wherhfore it is 
Aynswor. in Exod.  not un-observable that the very first utterance that an Infant at his birth yields is, ya, ya, ya; as if the Lord had ordained, either that we should be born with his name jah in our mouths, which name is generally ascribed to him, when some notable deliverance or benefit, according to his former promise comes to pass, because he is the beginning and Being of beings, and giveth to all, life, and breath, and all things, Act. 17. v. 25. or else, that in our swaddling clothes we should have something of the PRIMITIVE Language, till afterwards confounded, as we are taught to speak. But by yà the Chinois intent Excellens.  
And how long soever the Chinois lived undiscovered to other Nations, it seems, that of old, they were not to the Israelites unknown, as may be collected from those words of the Prophet Isaiah, Ecce isti a longinquo venient ●…ce quoque illi ab Aquilone, & ab Occasu, denique isti à terra Sinaeorum; Behold, these shall come from far: and lo, these from the North and from the West, and these from the land of Sina. Isai. 49. v. 12. But when you shall found so many reciprocally mutual customs between them, whither Theology, or Morality, or what else be respected, as throughout our Essay shall be manifested, you will, without all peradventure, assure yourselves, that the Chinois immediately proceeded from one and the same stem Noah, as the Hebrews originally did, rather than that they seem to have been anciently to one another known.  
We may therefore conclude, That if either sympathy of Qualities; Affinity of names, Coherence of Times; Concurrence in events; or most memorable predictions be of validity in the case: we have at last, after such curious enquiry by all Writers upon this subject, and the Plantations of the World after the Deluge, found out; what become of Noah after he departed out of his native Country, and that he lived in China. Where after his descent out of the Ark, he might betake himself immediately to his husbandry and planting, in a rich, if not the richest soil of the whole Universe. And direct his Offspring unto such parts of the Earth, as either himself formerly at first before the flood had lived in, or knew most agreeable to their inclinations, and for their best advantage. Without ever ranging over the World from Armenia to Arabia Foelix, thence into Africa, afterwards into Spain, and then into Italy, as Annius in his B●…sus, and those that follow him, have feigned (Noah was an husbandman, no wanderer: saith our learned Raleigh.) Or without making him to be Sabazius or Zagreus, Prometheus, Hercules, Ogyges, Deucalion, Triton, and I know not who; all men, in all places, at all times, as Gor●…pius would have him.  
But we must not leave Martinius behind us, in regard especially that how resolved soever he may appear in other matters, we found him confidently positive in and concerning this. Observe him therefore, Mihi vero religiosum non sit, Yaum hunc nostrum eundcm cum Jano dicere; ita nominum & temporum assinitate suaden●…e, qui Janus multis No fuisse creditur. But I may, saith he, without fear assert, that this our Yaus, was the same with janus, the affinity of names and times so persuading, which janus is by many conceived to have been Noah. Yet how clear soever this Testimony is, let us moreover examine what Authors have said of janus, and by what Character they have found him to be Noah; setting aside their general consent, to which our janus so absolutely corresponds, that they call him Bifrons, as seeing and knowing the Ages both before and after the flood.  
Of the Antiquity then of janus, Fabius Pistor as I found him cited by Sir W. Raleigh giveth this 
Sir W. Ral. Histor. par. 1. pag. 91.  testimony. jani aetate nulla erat Monarchia, quia mortalibus pectoribus nondum hoeserat ulla regnandi cupiditas etc. vinum & far primus populos docuit janus ad sacrificia: primus enim Aras & Pomoeri●… & S●…cra docuit; In the time of janus, saith he, there was no Monarchy, for the des●…re of rule had not then folded itself about the hearts of men. janus' first taught the people to sacrifice wine and meal: he first set up Altars, and instituted gardens and solitary groves, wherein they used to pray; with other holy rites and ceremonies.  
Now let us consider how far our janus may be concerned herein; Sane sires ab eo gestas ●…ecte 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 36;  expendas, omnes non modo Sinenses, sed orbis fere totius optimos quosque reges virtute pariter & gloria vel vicit, vel aequavit. Verily, saith Martinius, if his actions be truly weighed, as well in virtue, as glory, he either equalled or excelled, not only all those of China, but all whatever the best Kings, that almost ever were in the whole World. He lived 
I Nieuh: l' Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 106.  in the zeal of Charity; sowed the seeds of Prayer; consulted frequently the highest Divinity; trampled vanity under his feet, gave himself to Fast and Prayers to free his Subjects from calamities; and undertook all things with admirable prudence and conduct. But, as neare as possible, we are to observe the Chini●…ue phrase, with a celestial piety, and singular wisdom he 
M Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 1. p. 37●…  was endued, all welcomed him, as the approaching Sun; and by all was expected with as much desire, as the thirsty fields expect clouds and rain: He was powerful, but acted just things only; Noble and rich, but not proud; moderate in habit; temperate in diet; loved simplicity in salutations and titles, Rich householdstuff he despised, Pearls and Diamonds contemned; Venereal entice not vouchsafe an ear unto; adorned houses did not inhabit in; but wearing woollen garments, with the skins of Deer defended himself from cold. But, is not this intended, may happily some say, by just Noah, whom I sephus calls the Prince of the jews, rather, than pious jaus, the Prince of China? De religioso p●…tius viro, quamEthnico Imper atore dicta putes; of a man in holy Orders rather, than an Ethnic Emperor, you may think them to be spoken, saith Martiniu●…. However we have not ended yet, and scarcely can end, his merits are famed to be such. For, he was of surpassing diligence, easy of access to all, never offended with the importunity of any; much lesle with any incivility, which through ignorance was committed in his presence. He readily heard the differences between his people, and decided them himself; his patience was not to be overcome; his affections not to be moved in treating of Affairs, and in a cool temper with a compassionately moderate voice gave judgement on Malefactors.  
And though it is true that Monarchy was then in use among the Chinois, (For Fabius Pictor could not know more, than was then known, and perhaps might think the Terrestrial Globe contained no other Countries, than what were arrived at the Romans knowledge) the desire nevertheless of rule, the World being an Infant and harmless, had not then folded itself about the hearts of men. For our janus either weary thereof, or contemning it retired, and confining himself to a solitary grove, lived there in the contemplation of Heaven and Heavenly things; and from the motions of the Celestial bodies made such observations, as that his Subjects afterwards become fully instructed by him, not only in the Institution of Gardens, and Groves for their devotions, but also in planting and husbandry of whatever kind was requisite for the benefit of mankind.  
Being returned from his solitude (and whither under this solitude may not lie concealed, his going into the Ark, Time is to reveal, it being questionable enough. For, Post haec, saith Martinius, i e. after his having given us the relation of the abatement of the waters) our janus brought the Chinique Empire into a better, yea, a new and another kind of form, than formerly it had, ordaining Sacred Rites, Temples, and Sacrifices; constituting Laws both civil and criminal, and appointing several Tribunals of Justice, for the greater ease as well of the Subjects, as their Governors in succeeding times, which continued in full force even at this day. In sum, he presented all things as virtue required, with such a natural aptness, as if goodness had been born with him, omnia virtute atque indole quadam sibi congenitâ exequebatur, being my Author's words. Whereby he filled China with his just and pious deeds, and all Ages with his memory; for he lives a reputed Saint among them at this day.  
He disinherited his son Chus, for being (mark I pray) Loquax & contentiosus, a Prattler and stubborn, saying one thing, acting another, seemingly virtuous, really vicious.  
After this, he deliberated of his own accord voluntarily, to make, whilst living, a resignation of his Government, and would have surrendered the same to the care of one Sungous, who though of high esteem for his abilities, pretending nevertheless that the charge was too weighty for him, rejected the same. And thereupon our janus resigned his Dominion to Xunus, a right pious, but poor Countryman; who like Numa being invited to the Sceptre from the plough, lives as yet not lesle famous for his virtues among the Chinois, than Numa among the Romans, but for his valour much more. I cannot forbear to remember two principles of his; first, no father could be so wicked to whom his son owed not obedience; nor any man so impious, but by instruction and benefits might be induced to led an honest and virtuous life.  
Now Martinius and Nieuhoff by their late search found jaus to have entered upon his Government over China about sixty three years before the flood, though Semedo in his time will scarcely allow him twelve. But whither twelve or five times twelve, they compute, that he lived both before and after the Deluge, from which that Noah only with his wife, and his sons, and his sons wives escaped, nothing is more certain. And therefore who this Yaus, jaus, or janus could be, Noah excepted, is not to be understood by me, unless happily any shall say, that the general Deluge happened long before the year of the World one thousand six hundred fifty six, which I conceive no sober man, if he be not Samaritanized will presume to think. For the Samaritans indeed by diminishing the generations of Iared, Methusalah, and Lamech come short of the Hebrew computation before the flood, and exceed it much more in the Genealogies of the Patriarches after the flood.  
We are here to observe likewise, that on such a subject as we now treat of, where the actions of an Ancient people, before these days unto the Europaeans, or more truly, saith Martinius, unto the universal World unknown, are to be enquired 
M. Mart: Sin. hist. in Epist. 〈◊〉  into, the more modern Authors are the most warrantable. For heretofore their Histories were reputed mere Fables, even by men of judgement, insomuch as Lodovicus Vives (living about the time of their first discovery) writes, that he wonders how any man could spend his time about such trifles.  
Although their Histories be true, Historiae illorum, 
Is. Vos. Aet at. Mun. pag. 45.  licet sint verae, saith Vossius. For, since the Tartarian War, as if Divine Power had decreed, they should be conquered to this end; Their discovery is generally completed; Their Antiquity certainly known; Their Language plainly understood, so far in present at lest, as conduceth to our enquiry; Time being to make known the rest. For, now free conversation is permitted, and full liberty granted to study in any of Their Libraries at pleasure, and to buy and imprint any of Their Books; which when at first the Jesuits began to collect, was by public Edict prohibited. Insomuch, that if we diligently make use, of what is Providentially cast upon us, we shall not only not need much longer to be inquisitive wherein Their Learning consisteth, but also found their Language to be, as the most ancient, so the most delightful and harmless, of all others at this day known throughout the World. Hoc demum aevo Serum calamitas, Serum nobis dedit notitiam, now at last in this our Age, the calamity 
Id. pag. 46.  of the Chinois, hath given us knowledge of the Chinois. As the same Vossius hath it.  
In what part of the World Noah built the Ark, the Scriptures are altogether silent; nor hath any approved Author, Goropius Becanus set aside, written thereof. Only this we are assured of, that the Ark was built, not in the North, or Northwest, but in that part of the World which lay East from Shinaar: And to my understanding, saith Sir W. Raleigh, not far from the 
Sir W. Ral. hist. par. 1. p. ●…3.  place, where it rested after the flood; for Noah did not use either Mast or Sail (as in other Ships) and therefore did the Ark no otherwise move, than the hulk or body of a Ship doth in a calm Sea. Also because it is not probable, that during those continual and downright reins there were any winds at all; therefore was the Ark little moved from the place, where it was fashioned, and set together. For it is written, God made a wind to pass upon the Earth, and the waters ceased. Gen. 8. v. 1. From whence it may be gathered, that during the fall of the waters, there was not any storm or forceable wind at all, which could drive the Ark any great distance from the place, where it was first by the waters lifted up. Thus far that Noble Gentleman.  
Goropius Becanus in his Indo-Scythia doth in maintenance of his opinion, that the Ark took ground upon the mountains of Caucasus, suppose, that Noah built the Ark neare those mountains, because on those hills are goodly Cedars: and that to this place Noah repaired both to separate himself from the reprobate Giants, who rebelled against God and Nature, as also because he would not be interrupted in building of the Ark; to which also he addeth conveniency of Rivers to transport the Timber, which he used without troubling any other carriages. Whereby Goropius appears you see very careful to supply Noah with necessaries for so great a work; and considering his giving so neare a conjecture, as he doth, at the place where the Ark might rest, he had great reason to fortify the same, with as many circumstances, as the quality of that Clime would admit.  
But having discovered such manifest footsteps of the Residence of Noah in China; after he withdrew from the corruption of the World, as that they far outweigh whatever supposal to the contrary; we must now wave Caucasus, and confidently affirm, that no Country in the habitable Earth could better furnish Noah, with all manner of conveniences, and every sort of materials proper for the building of such a Machine than China. For, if the Ark were made of Pine-trees, as the Geneva translation renders the word Gopher, then Kircherus will assure you, such Pine-trees are in China, that eight men can scarcely 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 4. p. 185.  fathom them, and that thirty eight men may stand within the body of them. If according to the Rabbins of Cedar, then Purchas will tell 
Purch. ●…ilgrim age, lib. 4. pag. 438.  you, that their store is such, as the Chinois use Cedar for funeral coffins and Tombs. If as the Septuagint of square timber, or as the Latin of smooth timber, then Nieuhoff affirms, that of all 
I Nieuh. l' Ambiguity: Or. par. 2. p. 80  kind of trees for Carpenter's work, such plenty, and of such several sorts is to be found within that Empire, that the number is beyond admiration incredible.  
And as for conveniency of Rivers to transport the Timber, though without the use of other carriages, it could never be brought to be put in work, either by Noah or his Assistants; Caucasus must with Goropius his good favour given place to China; for therein may be numbered not lesle, 
Id. par. 1. pag. 32.  than an hundred and eleven Rivers, some of them resembling Seas rather, than navigable streams; so that, saith Kircherus, there is scarcely a field 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 4. p. 165. M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 6. Heyl. Cosm. pag. 796.  but is watered by them; whereby the whole Empire is almost every where passable by boat, saith Martinius. Whereas Caucasus can boast of the spring-heads only of three, those nevertheless very famous ones, Indus, Hydaspes, and Zuraedrus; and though O●…us is said to have his spring on the North-side of Caucasus, as those other on the South; the mountains notwithstanding are so inaccessible, as no timber could any way by whatever human help be transported from that part. But Kircherus by a late discovery finds Indus, 
A. Kirch. Chi. iii. par. 2. p. 49  together with Ganges, Ravi, and A●…hec the greatest Rivers of all India to have their first beginnings in the mountains of the Kingdom of Thebeth, above one hundred leagues from Caucasus, whereby Goropius for confirmation of his opinion, comes to be utterly deprived of the conveniency of the chiefest of all his Rivers.  
Besides, as careful as he was, he hath wholly forgotten to furnish Noah at Mount Caucasus with pitch; for according to the peremptory command, He was to make the Ark, and pitch it within and without, with pitch. Gen. 6. v. 14. Whereof Sir W. Rale●…gh taking good notice, and 
Sir W. Ral. hist. par. 1. p. 94.  well knowing the command being so positive, was not to be neglected, saith, That the pitch which Noab used, is by some supposed to have been a kind of Bi●…umen, whereof there is great quantity about the valley of Sodom, and Gomorra, now the dead Sea or Asphaltes', and in the Region of Babylon, and in the West India. But I must with all respect nevertheless to so celebrated an Author, say, that the nearest of these places from the Caucasian mountains of Ararat is distant about seven hundred leagues, and therefore somewhat too far; as I conceive at lest, for Noah to transport such quantities of Bitumen, as he was of necessity to use upon so important an occasion. Now, of the great store of pitch that China affordeth, not more assured testimony can be given, than Their multitudes of Shipping, and infinite number of Pine-trees; but that kind of pitch which these trees produceth, and which is to us so welcome; the Chinois have in little esteem; But use and ever did, a bituminous or pitchy substance found in great abundance every where throughout Their Country, which they make up, as we do mortar with the oil of a certain fish, and therewith calk and dress their Ships. This pitch of There's, as Gonsalez Mendoza in his History of China relates, is not only more 
G. Mend. hist. del Chi. lib. 3. pag. 167, 169.  tenacious than ours, but also breedeth few worms (a matter of no small importance in those Seas) and makes the timber endure like stone. So that one Ship of There's will outlast two of ours, and did they not build them thin, would last much longer.  
Neither doth Goropius acquaint us, how Noah in those barbarous and desolate upland Countries confining Caucasus, come by workmen to assist him; for himself and family, without the help of Angels, or the like miracle, could never of themselves have accomplished such a Fabric. Whereas the natural ingenuity of the Chinois might not only given him assistance, but advice also, in what manner to put in work the directions that God had given him for building of the Ark; which if it were made in that part of the World which lay East from Shinaar, as most certainly it was, then no Country under the Sun can be found more Eastward from thence than China.  
The Vines which grow about Mount Caucasus, are much celebrated both by Sir W. Raleigh and Goropius, they using them as a principal argument, for the resting of the Ark there. But if ever in any part of the habitable Earth the Vine grew naturally, it is in China in the Province of Xensi especially; but in Xansi, saith Martinius, 
A. Sem. Rel. del Cin. par. 1. c. 1. M. Mart. Atl. Sin. pag. 39, 41.  are the most delicious grapes of all others in China; where in the City of Pingyang their never enough by them extolled Emperor jaus resided. So that, as Sir W. Raleigh observes of Noah, he needed not to travail far to seek out the Vine; when it grew at his very door. But though they have Vines in all abundance, and such as yield most delicious fruit, the Chin●…is nevertheless despise 
I Nieu. l' Amb. Or. par. 2. p. 88  the wine thereof, and drying up the grapes for Raisins make a wine of Rice, not lesle generous and noble than ours, stieping therein the flesh of Kids, I know not, saith Martinius, with what Art prepared. It is highly esteemed by the Chinois, hath an excellent body, is very strong, and grateful to the taste and pleasant. They make it not of ordinary Rice; but a certain kind of it peculiar to their Country, which serveth only to make this liquor.  
And as for that, that Goropius saith, the Ark rested upon the mountains of Caucasus, because of all others it is the highest mountain in the World, it is no argument at all; unless it could be made appear, that, as it is feigned of the Argos, the Ark had sense to direct itself, or Noah a rudder to steer it thither. It may as well be said, that it took ground on the Pike of Tenariff, which is conceived neither to yield to Caucasus, or any other whatever hill in the Universe for height. This we are certain of, that the Ark rested on the Mountains, and reason granteth it was such a Mountain, as, were it more or lesle high, after the abatement of the waters, the Ark first touched upon; and settling afterwards as they declined, firmed on the same. And therefore nor Scripture nor reason will allow, it should be the highest of all others.  
However, if need require, China will afford us mountains of inaccessible altitude; for Kircherus 
A. Kir. Ch. iii. par. 4. p. 169, 170▪  tells us, That this Empire is adorned with innumerable hills; some of them being in regard of their immense height clothed with perpetual serenity, others again covered with a continual obscurity of hover clouds. The greatest and highest especially, the Chinois have in so great veneration, as that they are transported with no study more, than a vain observation of them, supposing all their felicity and fortune to consist in them. And why? because the Dragon, whom they make the Lord of felicity inhabits them. But in regard many things are now done whereof the original cause is hardly to be conjectured, I should, were it lawful for me to interpose herein, conceive rather, that this their imputing all their happiness and prosperity to their mountains, might at first proceed from the felicity and good fortune they attained, by their Ancestors being at the time of the flood preserved in the Ark upon such mountains; great deliverances having in all times, among all Nations, by several ways, with reference nevertheless to the occasion been commemorated. Thus the Israelites observed the Passeover, in remembrance that their forefathers were passed over, and saved, when all the firstborn of Egypt were slain. And I forget not to have read, That some are of opinion, the Nemaean Games were by the Grecians solemnised, because Hercules slew the Nemaean Lion, though others with more authority assert, they were solemnised in regard of the preservation of Adrastus and his Army, that in their march towards Thebes had all perished in the forest of Nemaea, if they had not been preserved by Hypsiphile who directed them to a fountain of water there. And those also are not wanting, that suppose the Lupercalia were instituted by the Romans in honour of Pan, when more probably they were instituted in memory that their Founders Romulus and Remus were saved by being suckled and brought up by Lupa the wife of Faustulus. And that, from the preservation of their Ancestors, as we said, this superstition of the Chinois may proceed, is not altogether unwarrantable, but attended with a most remarkable circumstance. For by their History it appears, that at the time when China was drowned, some people were saved upon the mountain Feu near the City of Kaocheu in the Province of Quantung. Which from Martinius you may 
M. Mart. At. Sin. pag. 139.  receive thus. Feu mons ad ortum urbis tantae altitudinis, ut hunc eluvionis Sinicae tempore, vertice super aquas eminuisse velint, in eoque homines aliquot salvos perstitisse & incolumes. Hear the same confirmed by Nieuhoff also, Si nous voutions croire le Chinois, nous dirions que Kaocheu, septiéme ville de 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 1. p. 89.  Quantung, avoisine une montagne, nommee de Feu, qui pour sa hauteur incomparable servit d' Asyle, & deport à plusieurs hommes durant le deluge; If we may credit the Chinois, they will tell us, saith he, that Kaocheu the seventh City of Quantung, hath adjoining to it a Mountain called Feu, which being of incomparable height served for an Asylum and Port to several men during the Delug●… Now, why might not these, thus saved, be Noah and his family, though no mention of the Ark be made, or its taking Port there? Considering, that They only escaped the Deluge; that the Chinique Deluge was the same with Noah's; and that by what means the memory of things, both before and at the flood, should be preserved among the Chinois, when all mankind was wholly destroyed, without having recourse to Noah and his family, is unknown. But my conjecture is scarcely delivered, when an objection is cast in my way.  
For it is now said, That if Noah lived in China before the flood, how could the Ark rest upon the mountains of Ararat, as the Scripture saith positively, it did; when Caucasus being a mountain of Ararat is distant from China at lest four hundred leagues, and when the Ark having neither Sails to carry it, Oars to row it, nor current to drive it, could, as hath been said, hull up and down only, as on a standing pool? And therefore it may be much more probable, that Noah both lived and built the Ark not far from the Mountains of Cavasus, where it took ground, as Sir W. Raleigh, and Goropius have supposed. To this is answered, That in the Province of Lycia, a Region of Asia minor neare the Mediterranean Sea, that ledge of Hills gins, which Moses calleth Ararat, now known by the name of Taurus, and which running through the lesser and greater Asia, not far from Caucasus meets with the Mount Imaus. Now, though the Ancient 
Heyl. Cosm. pag. 796. A. Kirc. Ch. iii. par. 1. pag. 46. M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 1. I Nie●…h. l' Amb. Or. par. 1. p. II Ort. p. 105.  Writers could trace the course of this Mountain not farther, yet later observations follow it to the wall of China; and found, that the main body of it, having held on an even course from West to East, and there dividing, one r●…dge bounds China on the West, and the other continueth on the North thereof, even through Corea until it encounters with the East Sea there. And this not only all the modern, and therefore perfect Geographical Descriptions of this extreme part of Asia will testify, but hereof Heylin also, who hath been as diligent in the search thereof, as any, shall assure you: his words being▪ China is bounded on the North with Altay, and the Eastern 
Heyl. Cosm. p. 864.  Tartars, from which separated by a continued chain of Hills, part of those (mark I pray) of Ararat. Whereby it appears, that as Ararat had its Caucasus, so China had her Ararat, upon which the Ark might rest, as upon the mountains of Ararat, the Scripture saith positively it did. And it is not un-observable, the Scripture teacheth us, that the Ark rested, not on the mountain in the singular, but on the mountains of Ararat in the plural. A manifest argument that Ararat was a general name, and had reference to the whole ledge of Hills, not to any particular mountain so called. As we even at this day both in discourse and writing use in the same sense to say, not the mountain, but mountains of Taurus; not the Pyraenian hill, but hills; not the Alphonso, but Alps. Neither must we forget, that if according to the Hebrew mode you cast your eye from the right to the left, and admit Taura in the Feminine, you shall found it will produce Aruat. And had Goropius lived to have perused our late discoveries, he 
G. Bec. judos. p. 476.  would never so contrary to reason, have raised, I know not how changeable and violent winds to drive the Ark from the south of Paropamisus into the north to the beginning of Caucasus, and then back to the southward again, until at last upon the highest tops of Caucasus, by great good fortune, he makes it rest. Nor he, or our Raleigh troubled themselves and Readers, with so many tedious Arguments about this Mountain as they have done, but without doubt, have concluded, that the Ark rested on the mountains of Ararat confining China. In which Region Noah having lived before the flood, the Ark needed neither Winds, nor Sails, nor Oars, nor Current to transport it; but being born up by the waters, might in five month's time, going upon them, be wafted by the weight of them only, let the pool be as standing as you please, out of the plain Country of China below, to the adjoining mountains of Ararat above, And thereby both sacred Scripture fulfilled, and profane History certainly reconciled.  
For, thus with the Scripture, Nimrod and his Troops might go from the East to the valley of Shinaar, as the very letter of the Text saith they did; whereas Caucasus bendeth into the North. And as they journeyed from the East, they found a plain in the land of Shinaar, and they dwelled there. As if the Providence of God had decreed, that the World should begin to be planted, even from the utmost extremity thereof, thereby to prescribe a rule to all after Ages; in what manner they aught to conduct and carry on their Plantations by degrees. Hence as it was with our forefathers, so by us in the settling of Colonies, it is still observed, to follow always the Sun, wheresoever it is free, and may without danger be done, jest otherwise the conduct of Nature should seem without cause to be resisted by us.  
Thus with Raleigh, Noah, at first when he come down out of the Ark after returning thanks to God for his deliverance, might become an husbandman, no wanderer; Nimrod be six years in travailing from the place, where the Ark rested to Shinaar; and India the sooner inhabited by the way thither, whereby the vast numbers of the army of Staurobates, with which he encountered Semiramis, might have suf●…cient time to be propagated, and consequently exceed hers. Thus, with the same Author, Goropius and Heylin, the Ark might rest not far from the place where Noah lived,, without calling sometimes the North, sometimes the South winds to help, as Goropius doth; and Noah be settled in the East, and have well peopled all those parts, which lay nearest to him, before he sent Nimrod and his Troop abroad to search for other habitations. Thus with Raleigh also, might the sons of Ioc●…an left behind with Noah, orderly and quietly be planted in the several Regions of India beyond Ganges. Whereas otherwise, being, as is conceived, they were not born, till after the Confusion of Tongues, they could not possibly pass from Babel with their families, flocks, and herds of cattles into such remote parts, through the interjacent Kingdoms, fully peopled, and after the dispersion long before they could be of Age to wander, all full of wars and tumults. Thus with Heylin might China be planted before the rest of the Adventurers went to seek new fortunes at the Tower of Babel. Thus, with Martinius might jaus without scruple be Noah; this extreme part of Asia whereof we writ, be for certain inhabited before the flood; the History of China preserved in the Ark; and the people thereof arrive to the perfection of Arts and Sciences, so early as they did. Thus, with Willet might Noah without dispute be exercised in planting of Religion, and doing most excellent works for the benefit of Mankind; Thus, with Nieuhoff might Xensi be of just right the most ancient Province of Asia, and in memory thereof the Emperors of China keep their Imperial residence therein, ever since the universal Flood, till the reign of the family of Hana. Thus, with Heylin and Martinius both, might China unquestionably be peopled from the cessation of the Deluge, before the Enterprise of Babel, and Confusion of Tongues. And thus may the Language of the Empire of China be preferred to all others.  
And hereby we found, that Sir W. Raleigh had great reason to assert, That these Eastern parts of the World were the first peopled Countries after the flood, and planted before Noah sent Nimrod and his followers abroad upon new discoveries. And that Heylin might upon good 
Heyl. Cosm. p. 870.  grounds conceive, that China was primitively planted by some of the Posterity of Sem before the Undertaking at Babel Which may probably be concluded, saith he, from the extreme populousness of the Country, the many magnificent Cities, their Industry and Ingenuity in all Arts and Sciences, not to be taught them by their neighbours more ignorant in those things than themselves. Et sane totius Indiae populos Sinis 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 6. p. 237  circumjacentes mere barbaros incultosque dixeris, si cum Sinis oomparentur: And verily, saith Martinius, you may say, that all the people of India confining China are merely rude and barbarous, in comparison of the Chinois. And the reason, wherhfore the farther East should be the more civil; Sir W. Raleigh hath long since told us, is, because it had Noah himself for an Instructor. But unto those Excellencies of the Chinois, we shall add their Ancient Theology also.  
CHINA of all Kingdoms the most vast and 
A Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 1. pag. 3.  greatest, is, according to the late Geography environed on the East with the Oriental Sea, on the North separated from Tartary antiqui, the Realms of Niuche, Niul●…n, and part of Tangia by a vast wall, of which had the Ancients had knowledge, they would without doubt have celebrated among their other Wonders of the World. On the West it is surrounded partly with a ridg of most high hills, partly with the sandy desert of Zamo, and several Kingdoms; and on the South the Meridional Ocean with the Kingdoms of Tunching, Cochin-China, Lio, and others bound it. Semedo saith, it is as big as Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the L●…w-Countries, 
A. Sent●… Rel. del Cin. par. 1●… pag. 20. M. Mart. Atl. Sin. pag. 2.  Great Britain, and all the Islands belonging to it. According to Martinius, it extends in Longitude about thirty degrees, from the Head or Ptomontory of the City of Ningpo (called by the Portugals Liampo) as far as to the Amasaean or Damasian mountains. The greatest Latitude is from the eighteenth degree to the fortieth second of the North Hemisphere. Whereby, the figure of it, as Nieuboff hath it, ●…endeth to a square form, being four hundred and fifty Germane Leagues 
I Nieuh. l' Am●…. Or. par. 1. pag. 41.  length, and three hundred and thirty in breadth. But in all this mighty Continent are no such waste grounds or un-habitable Deserts as in other Countries, but full of goodly Towns and Cities.  
The Provinces of this Empire are fifteen, and in almost every one of them, more men fit for War to be found, than in all England and S●…otland. Insomuch, that if the first blessing conferred on Mankind both before and after the flood of Increase and multiply, Gen. 1. v. 28. Gen. 9 v. 1. was ev●…r to this day conspicuous in any Nation under Heaven, it is manifestly visible in this. For, by the Rolls in which the number of People is registered, appears, that there are therein ten Million, two hundred eight thousand five hundred sixteen families; and fifty eight Million, nine hundred fourteen thousand, two hundred eighty four fight men; besides, the Royal family, Magistrates, Eunuch's, Garrison-Souldiers, Priests, women and children, which are not numbered in the Registers of the Provinces. Thus Nieuhoff casteth up the account, from whom Martinius and Kircherus do not much vary. And therefore we need not wonder, that the Portugals at their first arrival in China, beholding such swarms of people in every place, demanded, if their women there brought forth nine or ten children at a birth.  
And lest such multitudes should be destitute 
A. Kirc. Ch. iii. par. 4. pag. 167, 168.  of habitations, there are within the Empire one hundred and fifty Metropolitan Cities, surpassing all others in magnificence and reputation; and of a lesser degree, twelve hundred twenty six, all fortified with walls and ditches; besides Castles, Fortresses, Burgoises, Towns, Hamlets, Villages, of which there is no number. So that at the end of every mile at lest, new and new habitations appear. All the Cities nevertheless are built after one form, viz. of a square figure, and he that hath seen one of them, may easily comprehend the manner of all the rest. The houses are for the most part of Timber, and generally of one story high, whereby as they avoid the wearying of themselves in ascending by stairs, so they take up much ground, what they want in height being fully recompensed by the length. They are, without rude, but within adorned with all manner of splendour and magnificence. Thus Kircherus.  
But our Heylin more particularly proceedeth, finding China to be provided with five hundred 
Heyl. Cosm. pag. 864.  ninety one Cities, fifteen hundred ninety three walled Towns, eleven hundred fifty four Castles, four thousand two hundred Towns unwalled, and such a number of Villages, that the whole Country seemeth to be but one City. Besides, their dwellings on Shipboard, wherein whole families reside, and where they buy, cell, are born, live and die. In such numbers, as that the question may well be, saith Kircherus, whither more people live aboard their Ships, or in 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 5. p. 216.  the Countries and Cities, those especially that are on the Seacoasts. And of Shipping such multitudes they have, that the Rivers seem to be no otherwise covered with them, than the land with houses; whence the Chinois use, by way of Proverb to say, that their Emperor is able to make a Bridge of Ships from China to Malaca, which are five hundred Leagues asunder. And lest any that tow the Vessels in course of Trade, should be obstructed or retarded in their passage, neither any Tree is suffered to grow, or other impediment permitted within five foot of the waterside. And the same order is observed for the better commoding of the highways to the use of Travellers.  
But I cannot moreover desist from Kircherus 
Id. in Epist▪ Ded.  his farther description thereof. It is, saith he, of such greatness of Power, that in the circumference of the Earthly Globe, a more mighty Monarchy, and more populous cannot comparable thereunto be found. The Kingdom of China alone, we may see so adorned with innumerable, and those most flourishing Cities, that if we should say, it were one entire Province, we should hardly say amiss. It is so furnished with frequent Towns, Castles, Villages, and places dedicated to their superstition; that if that wall of three hundred leagues in length, memorable in all Ages, were extended from Sea to Sea, all China throughout how great, how large soever, might not undeservedly be said to be one City, in which is found such infinite plenty of whatever is necessary for the life of mankind; as that, that which the wise industry of Nature hath here and there amongst other Kingdoms of the World dispersed, may all be summarily seen to be contained within this one only.  
I could acquaint you also, that the revenue of their Emperor amounteth yearly unto one hundred and fifty millions of Crowns, and how it is raised, and disposed of; but I forbear, more important matters as to our present disquisition, calling on me to proceed unto their Theology of old, before they become infected with Idolatry.  
Among all the Nations of the Universe, the 
I Nieuh. 〈◊〉 Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 54.  Chinois have most avoided to be guided by the light of Nature, & least erred in the ru●…es of their Religion; For, we know with what prodigious follies, the Descendants of Cham and japhet, the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians heretofore stuffed their Divine Worship. When the Chinois on the contrary, have, from immemorable times ever acknowledged one only God, whom they name the Monarc●… of Heaven. And we may found, saith Nieuhoff, by their Annals for more than four thousand years, that in this particular, there were never Pagans' that lesle offended. Whereby the rest of their Actions are the more conformable to that which right reason requires. And herewith Nicholaus Trigantius in his Christian Expedition 
N. Trig. in Chi. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 104 M. Mart.. Sin. Hist. Lib. 1. p. 11.  into China fully consents.  
But let us see what Martinius will afford us. Of the Great and first Author of things, saith he, there is among all the Chinois a wondered silence, for, in so copious a Language God hath not so much as a name; oftentimes nevertheless they use the word Xangti, by which they signify the Supreme Governor of Heaven and Earth. This Numen, we may say, was the Tetragrammaton of the Chinois; Deus Optimus Maximus being, 
Id lib. 4. pag. 149.  as is generally conceived, professed and adored by them of old under the name of Xangti. Huic enim ut supremo numini sacra facicbant, fundebantque preces, nullis ad religionem exciendam simulacris aut statuis usi; quippe qui numen ubique praesens venerantes, illud extra sensus omnes positum, nulla crederent imagine posse mortalium oeulis repraesentari. For unto him as to the supreme God they offered sacrifices and poured forth their prayers, using neither Statues nor Images for stirring up their devotion; for in regard adoring an Omnipotent and Incomprehensible Deity, they believed he was not by the resemblance of any thing to be represented to the eyes of Mortals. Now by whom could this people be instructed in such divine principles as these, but by Noah or Sem? For certain we are that the Hebrews who descended from Noah and Sem held it unlawful to use the name jehovah, except within the Sanctuary, when the Priest blessed the People, according to the Law, in Num. 6. v. 23. And that they were not to make unto Him any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing, that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the Earth; we found in Exod. 20. v. 4.  
But Martinius will conduct us farther yet. In these our days they worship a certain Numen, which what it is, they verily know not. As, the Athenians, I may add, had an Altar dedicated unto the unknown God, which as the Apostle instructeth us, was God that made Heaven and Earth. Act. 17. v. 24. But that of old, saith Martinius, the Chinois professed the true God, from the Doctrine delivered them by Noah, there is no doubt to be made. Olim vero quin ve●…um Deum agnoverint, ex doctrina Noë tradita dubium nobis nullum est; Being his words.  
They have an opinion, that many go erring in 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 〈◊〉. p. 333.  the mountains that never die, and fly like Spirits ascending up to Heaven, when they please; which Martinius inclines to conceive is grounded on the History of Enoch and Elijah.  
They were not without some knowledge of 
●…d. lib. 4. p. 149.  CHRIST, as the Books written by their Philosopher Confutius, styled the Plato of the Chinois is manifest; he being an Author of as sublime and profound Authority with them, as either Plato or Aristotle with us; and indeed more ancient. Confutium praevidisse VERBUM carnem futurum, idque non dubia ste praecepisse, quin & an●…um in Cyclo Sinico, quo futurum esset cognovisse; Confutius, saith our Author, foresaw that the WORD should become flesh, and not only confidently taught it, but knew in what year of the Chinique Cycle it should come to pass. (The Cycle of China to remember it by the way, containeth sixty years, as the Olympiad of the Greeks did four.) And it is memorable, that their Emperor that reigned at the birth of CHRIST 
Id. lib. 10. pag. 413.  would not be called Ngayus, as his name was, but Pingus, which signifies Pacificns; by a wondered Providence of God, that at the time that CHRIST the true Pacifique King come upon the Earth, the Emperor of China should be called Pacifique also.  
I found in Purchas, that Nicolao di Conti relateth, 
Pur. Pilgrimago, lib. 4. pag. 460. Nic. di Conti apud Ramus.  that when the Chinois rise in the morning, they turn their faces to the East, and with their hands joined, say, God in Trinity keep us in his Law. But in regard it doth not fully appear that from Antiquity they have used the same, and that Martinius is silent therein, we shall not insist upon it.  
To return therefore to Confutius, his usual saying, and wherein he concluded, the highest perfection to consist, was, Ne facias ulli, quod pati nolis, which is the Law and the Prophets. And as you would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luk. 6. v. 31. Mat. 7. v. 12. And though he flourished before CHRIST above 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 4. p. 137  five hundred years, many of his offspring nevertheless, are yet remaining and live in great honour, at this day; which is worthy observation it being not to be said again of any family in any place under Heaven except in China: where indeed many more like instances may be found, that especially of the now Princes of Corea, they being lineally descended from Kicius, who in the year one thousand one hundred twenty two before the Incarnation of CHRIST, had for his eminent learning, that Kingdom given him in reward by Faus the first Emperor of China, of the family of Cheva. Whereby it appears that the Posterity of Kicius, have in a continued succession enjoyed the Kingdom of Corea, two thousand seven hundred and ninety years.  
The most learned Philosophers among the 
Id Lib. i p. 13, 14.  Chinois, make the Chaos the beginning and original of all things; out of which the highest Immaterial or spiritual Being created that, that is material. They hold also, that the World was created in the winter Solstice; the Heavens first, the Earth next, then living Creatures, lastly, Man After the same manner, as Moses hath delivered. Gen. 1.  
That the World shall be dissolved into the Chaos, from whence it come, and tha●… before the dissolution thereof, there shall be great perturbation of all orders, and all things; with mighty Wars, insurrections of Kingdoms, and from thence public calamities shall arise throughout the universal Globe, they are clearly of opinion. Now, how fully they accord with the words of our Saviour herein. Matth. 24. v. 6, 7. declares.  
Add unto these, that in their Books they frequently 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 11.  assert, rewards to be decreed for virtue, and punishments for vice. But this seems only to relate unto the condition of our present life; for that they have any knowledge of the Judgement hereafter, from Martinius appears not. The Antiquity of their Theology not conducting them so far. Yet nevertheless I found in Trigantius, that 
N. Trig. in Christ. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 105.  from all times they have made no question of the immortality of the Soul, speaking often of the dead, as living in Heaven, but of the punishments of wicked men in Hell, not a word.  
The name of justice they confine not to that virtue which is a constant and perpetual will of 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 3. p. 96.  giving every man his due. But allow it such a latitude that every action consentaneous to reason is thereby signified. A true Maxim; for whatever is agreeable to reason, we may justly say to be just. And by the name of Piety they understand not the love only of God, their Parents, or themselves, but of all men universally. For, as they define justice to be the law and conveniency of doing well; so Piety, the means and rule of loving well. A Divine Principle, for we are to love our neighbours as ourselves; according to that in Matth. 22. v. 39  
Now, this high Divinity of There's admits a particular reflection. H. Grotius in his discourses of God and his Providence, as I found him Englished by Barksdale, pag. 18, and 19 tells us, That Moses his Books, wherein those Miracles are recorded, which at the Israelites coming out of Egypt, and in the wilderness, and in their entrance into the land of Canaan had happened, are of certain credit; not only because the present jews from their Parents, as they from theirs, and so forward until we arrive at those who lived in Moses and joshua his time, by certain and constant Tradition have received those miracles, but also, because there hath been a perpetual fame among the Hebrews, that Moses was commended by the Oracle of God, and made a Leader of his People; and because it is sure enough, that he was neither studious of his own glory, nor partial to his own Posterity. All which declares, saith Grotius, he had no reason to deceive us. Now, finding this Theology of the Chinois, not by tradition, and a perpetual fame, but in Books successively written from Age to Age, ever since the 
Isaac. Chron. pag. 47.  universal Deluge, above seven hundred years before Moses was born, to be equally agreeable and consonant towhat CHRIST himself and Moses hath taught us, and what we profess. And that in writing of these Books, the Chinois were neither studious of their own glory, nor partial to their own posterity, which declares they had no reason to deceive us. I see no cause to doubt, but that they received this Their Theology, ex doctrina à Nöe tradita, from the doctrine taught them by Noah, as Martinius from their Books hath positively affirmed. Considering withal, that Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Gen. 6. v. 9  
As for Their policy in government, I shall chief observe what Kircherus delivers. That if 
A. Kirch. Chi. iii. par. 2: p. 115  ever any Monarchy in the world was constituted according to political principles, and dictates of right reason, it may be boldly said that of the Chinois is. For therein every thing is found disposed in so great order; as that whereas all matters are under the rule and power of their Literati, or wiseman; so also hardly any thing is transacted throughout the whole Empire which depends not upon them; neither can any man attain to any degree of Honour, that is not very richly learned in their Letters and Sciences. In a word, their Kings may be said to be Philosophers, and their Philosophers, Kings; and they order every thing, saith Semedo, in such manner, as may most conduce to good government, concord, 
Al. Sem. Rel. del. Cin. par. 1. cap. 18.  peace, and quietness in families, and to the exercise of virtue: Insomuch he tells us, that so great an Empire seemeth to be but, as it were, one well governed Convent.  
Their first form of Government, until the time of their Emperors was paternal, as is written of Abraham and Lot. But no credit is given to whatever their History relates, during this form of rule. For the Chinois themselves, as hath been 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. pag. 12  said, suspect the credit of their Annals before the reign of their Emperor Folmis, as containing those things, that are for the most part ridiculous and false.  
Their first Emperors were elective, but about the year before CHRIST two thousand, two hundred, and seven, which according to the Hebrew or vulgar computation, and which with our Chinique Authors we follow, was forty four years before the Confusion of Tongues, they began to rule by hereditary right; and for numerous successions after the flood were not Idolaters, but Adorers of the true God of Heaven and Earth; and were Priests also, and offered sacrifices to him; as no question from the Example of Noah they had learned; and as the Patriarches Abraham, Isaac, and jacob were afterwards accustomed to do. For, it was not lawful, saith Martinius, for any to officiate in sacris but the Emperor; nor for any to be inves●…ed with the sacerdotal dignity, but he that swayed the sceptre, so highly have they ever reverenced their sacred matters. Neither was Idolatry known unto them, till after the birth of CHRIST, when 
Purch. Pilgrimage, lib. 1. pag. 67.  for many Ages preceding, the whole World had followed Idols; for, the Offspring of Cham derive their Idolatry even from the time of Noah; and the Israelites themselves had deserted God above one thousand years before. But Corruptio optimi p●…ssima, for after the Chinois fell into Idolatry, neither Babylonians, Egyptians, or Greeks were ever more superstitious, nor ever had more Deities, than they.  
Casting of their ancient Theology, they entertained that error of the Eternity of the World; 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 1. p. 11.  with which, as Martinius informeth us, together with the worship of Idols, they were, in the sixty fifth year after CHRIST, infected by an Indian Philosopher that crept into China, as Xaverius the Jesuit to propagate the Gospel among them, did of late times. But as the jews at this day hold it a sin to pronounce jehovah; 
Bayl. Pr. of piety. p. 19, 20.  so, their present Idolatry notwithstanding, the Chinois at this day hold it heinous for any, but their Emperor to sacrifice to Xangti; insomuch 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 1. p. 48.  that they put those to death that attempt the same. But this their ancient knowledge of, and constant perseverance in the worship of the true God requires as yet, a more serious consideration; For we found in josephus that Noah at his 
jos. Ant. jud. lib. 1. cap. 4.  coming forth of the Ark offered a sacrifice of Thanksgiving unto God for his deliverance, but read nothing more of any such worship, till the days of Abraham; who we are taught, was by God himself peculiarly chosen, and called thereunto; Gen. 12. And who, saith the same josephus, first of all did most manifestly preach and prove, that there was but one God, Governor and Maker 
Id. cap. 8.  of all things. When as in China one God, by whom all things are governed and preserved, was not only adored, during all that time from Noah unto Abraham; but also hath continually from Abraham to this very day, been adored among them; their Literati especially. So that had this extreme part of Asia been discovered in the time of St. Augustine, he might have assigned far larger bounds to his City of God, and the Tents of Sem, than otherwise he hath done.  
That which Aristotle hath delivered of the People of Asia, is verified in the nature of the 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 5.  Chinois: We Europaeans exceed them in point of valour, They us in subtlety of invention. They are wise, politic, and upon sudden emergencies most acute and resolute. Laborious also they are and industrious, and suffer not any one thing that is useful to be lost. For notwithstanding their great abundance of all precious commodities, they collect and keep together the most vilest and basest rags whatsoever, the bones of Dogs, Hen's feathers, Hogs hairs, yea all sorts of most filthy and stinking excrements, and make good merchandise of them. Their fineness of ingenuity is oftentimes perverted; for, they take great pleasure to outwit, and craftily cousin others. But they are professed enemies to sloth and idleness, and where the lest hope of gain appears, they think no pains too great to obtain it. 
Id. pag. 7.  They are healthful and strong, very ag●…le, nimble, and of a lively spirit, and in some places contend with Europaeans for whiteness of complexion, and are much conformable to them, if the flat nose, thin beard, prominent and long eyes, and broad face be excepted. All both men and women delight in long and black hair on the head. The women generally are low of strature, but in countenance both generous and elegant. The chief grace and beauty of a woman they attribute to the smallness of her feet. Wherhfore, as soon as they are born, they swaddle and bind them with fillets so straight, that they can never after grow. Insomuch that some of them in bigness scarcesly exceed Goats or Calves-feets. A ridiculous verily and strange folly in such a polite people, to whom if an Helena were brought, they would arraign her of deformity if her feet were greater. So that their women endure willingly that kind of torment, that they may appear the more amiably pleasing to the men.  
The first Arts of the Chinois were the Mathematics, Astrology, and Astronomy, of which that they might receive the Elements from Noah, I conceive noon will suspect, the progeny of Seth before the flood having made such progress therein, as that by writing they communicated to posterity what they had found out concerning 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. p.. 17.  them. Inde constat scientiam primam apud Sinas Mathematicam fuissé, atque a N●…e adposteros quasi per manus propagatam; whereby it appears, saith Martinius, that the first science among the Chinois was the Mathematical, and from Noah to th●…ir Posterity delivered as it were by hand.  
They delight in no Art more, than Agriculture 
Id. lib. 8. pag. 330.  and Planting, nor ever from all Antiquity did; and are to admiration expert therein. Insomuch that without prejudice to other Nations it may be affirmed truly, they exceed all people in the World, and are so indefatigably diligent, laborious and expert therein, that throughout all the Chinique Empire, there is scarcely one hands breadth of ground to be found unmanured or barren, that either by Nature is, or by Art can be made fertile. And therefore no wonder that such multitudes of people are fully supplied with all manner of Provisions: Nor that they should be so expert, since that Noah was an husbandman and taught them. The ninth part of the land is the Emperor's; for, upon settling any new Colony they always made an equal division, allotting to every family alike proportion; which they subdivided again into nine parts, whereof that in the midst was the Emperors. Whereby as the safety of the Emperor lay in the hearts of his Subjects, so his lands also lay in the heart of There's.  
Their Physic consists in the knowledge of Plants and Herbs, of all other undoubtedly the most safe and secure, and most agreeable to the constitutions and complexions of Mankind. And they are so learned and expert herein, that they 
M. Mar●… Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 24.  say one of their Emperor's having in the space of one day found out sixty several sorts of poisonous simples, in the same day likewise found out, as many other Herbs, as were Antidotes against them, whom therefore they call the Prince and Author of Physicians at this day. But our Europaeans found their profit too easy by consulting Galen, to trouble themselves with so great study, as this kind of practice requires. Ours talk, Thetrs cure, saith Martinius. Their 
A. Kir. Ch. iii. par. 4. p. 169.  Physicians, saith Kircherus also, being learned by Tradition (traditional practice, are his Authors, Martinius words) are famously skilful in the knowledge of Pulses, whereby the causes, effects, and symptoms of Diseases are admirably discovered by them, and agreeable remedies accordingly applied. They never writ any receipt, but 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. c. 11.  given the Medicine themselves unto the Patient whom they visit, and whom at their coming they never ask where his pain lieth, whither in his head, stomach, or belly, but feel his pulse only with both their hands leaning on a pillow, or some such other thing; and so observe the motion of it, for a good while, and from thence declare what the Patient aileth; the learned Physicians seldom failing therein.  
Poetry is of high Antiquity among them. But it is far different from that, that is in use with us; For, they stuff not their works with Fables, Fictions, 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 4. p. 111.  and Allegorical conceits, such as when the Authors Poetical rapture is over, himself understands not. But in Heroic verse chant forth instructions for their Princes to govern justly, their Ministers of State to rule under them uprightly; and their Subjects to obey them loyally: and in such manner composed withal; that they infuse terror into the bad, and are a spur to the good to live virtuously and well. Other Poems they have which are the subject of Natural Philosophy; and others again, which treat of Love, not with so much levity nevertheless, as ours, but in such chaste Language, as not an undecent and offensive word to the most chaste ear is to be found in them. And which is more, they have no Letters whereby to express the Privy parts, nor are they 
A. Sem. Rel. de i 〈◊〉 Cin. pa●…. 1●… cap. 11.  to be found written in any part of all their Books; which cannot be said of any Language under the concave of Heaven, besides. Now, why may not this more than remarkable silence proceed, out of the detestation of that shame, which Noah received by the discovery of his nakedness, as a reproach throughout Their generations to be for ever buried in oblivion? And be the cause also, why Wine made of grapes should be odious to them? So that heretofore the Jesuits were enforced to have the wine which they used in their Ceremony of the Mass from Macao at exceeding charge, labour, and no lesle peril; jest, as it were, it should be discovered. But, now they procure it from Xansi, to administer in such Provinces, where otherwise it is not to be had. It is observable likewise, 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 54.  that he, who during the reign of Yuus, found out the way to make wine of Rice, was banished for his industry; and though severe punishments were by public edict decreed against all those that either made or drank it, nevertheless from this kind of liquor they could never be induced to refrain, superstition might persuade them to despise the One; no Policy could compel them to forbear the Other. 
A. Sem. Rel. de Id Cin. pa●…. 〈◊〉 cap. 29.   
As for Moral Philosophy, their Ancestors had these five Cardinal Virtues, Piety, justice, Policy, Prudence, Fidelity in such high esteem, as that all their most ancient and fundamental Laws were framed out of them, neither are they in lesle account among them at this day, than in times of old. We will take leave to repeat them, as they in their own Idiom express them, thus, Gin, Y, Li, Chi, Sin.  
Gin, they say, signifies Piety, Humanity, Charity, Reverence, Love, Compassion, which after this manner they explain, To esteem one's self lesle than others; To be affable; To secure those that are afflicted; To help those that are in necessity; To have a tender and compassionate heart; To bear good will towards all men; To use all this more particularly towards their Parents.  
Y, according to their doctrine is justice, Equality, Integrity, Condescension in all things reasonable and just; hereby the Judge is, To given every man his own. The rich man, To take heed he presume not on his wealth; and To given some part of it to the Poor; To adore, as Martinius hath it, the Supreme Emperor of Heaven and Earth; Not to be contentious; Not to be obstinate; Not to oppose what is just, and conformable to reason.  
Li, as they expound it, is Policy, Courtesy, to honour and reverence others as is fitting, which they say, consisteth, In the mutual respect one man is to bear another; In the mature consideration and circumspection which is to be used in managing of affairs; In the modesty of outward deportment; In obedience to Magistrates; In being gentle to young men, and respectful to old.  
Chi, after their Philosophy, denoteth Prudence, Wisdom; the which they place, In reading of Books, In studying of Sciences, In being perfect in the liberal Arts; In the knowledge of matters of Antiquity; In the good intelligence of modern affairs; In observing well what is past, thereby the better to regulate the present and future occasions; In discerning right from wrong.  
Sin, they say, is Fidelity, Verity, it consisteth in a sincere heart, and real intention; To do only that which is good; To imitate what is just; To make their words and works, and that which is hidden within, to that which appeareth outwardly, agreed.  
As they have these five Cardinal qualities, so they reckon up five principal degrees of Human Society, The King and Subject; the Husband and Wife; Father and Son; Elder and Younger Brothers; and one Friend to Another. The King is to observe towards his Subjects, Love, Vigilancy, and Clemency: and the Subjects towards the King, Loyalty, Reverence, and Obedience. The Husband towards his Wife, Love, kind usage, and union: She towards her Husband, Fidelity, Respect, and Complacency. The Father towards his Children, Love and Compassion; They toward their Father, Obedience and Piety. The Elder Brother towards the Younger, Love, and Instruction; The Younger towards the Elder, (that is, to all their Brothers that are Elder than they) Obs●…rvance and Respect. Friends towards one Another, Love, Faithfulness, and Sincerity. And as for degrees of lesser rank 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 4. p. 148  appertaining to visits, entertainment of guests, civil and modest behaviour, and what belongeth to the decent composure of the body, they enumerate not lesle, than three thousand, of all which in their Books, they treat most largely.  
And for better propagation of Learning their Emperors erected Public Schools, and Academies, that their Subjects might be instructed, in whatever Arts and Moral Virtues; whereby from their childhood growing up to the elegancy of most excellent abilities; they were endued with observance to their Elders, and duty towards their Parents; who with all the most submissive reverence, were ever; and still are honoured by them; not only during their lives, but after death likewise; so that no People under the Sun with more regret, and greater ceremony condole the loss of their Parents, than the Chinois; Never for three years together after theirdeaths, stirring out of their doors; never sitting in 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 16.  a chair, but on a little stool; never lying on a bedstead, but the floor; never drinking any of their wine, eating flesh, using any baths; or, if you will believe them, lying with their wives; nor ever, during that time transacting any public Affairs, whatever Office of State they are entrusted with, even from the Emperor to the meanest degree of Magistrates. This being done by them, saith Martinius, that from the respect which 
M. Mart. hist. Sin. lib. 9 pag. 378.  the living given unto the dead, their children may learn in what manner living Parents are to be respected. As if their first Founder had taught them, Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land, which thy Lord thy God giveth thee. Exod 20. v. 12. And certain it is, that throughout their whole Empire, they are generally known to live a long and happy life. 
A Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 1.  We read, that there have been those among them, whose bones were twelve or thirteen Cubits long, and that they lived one thousand years and more; which if so, it must be before the flood. But in regard this seems to spring from Tradition only, if according to Nieuhoff it be looked upon as a vapour of the Chinois, and that 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 1. pag. 122.  with him we admit it into the rank of Fables, yet the reason that he gives for its untruth, doth not hold good against it. For, he saith, the Holy Scripture tells us, that not one of the men of the first Age of the World lived unto a thousand years. Now that there were Giants both before and after the flood is manifest, Gen. 6. v. 4. Deut. 3. v. 11. And though we found Methusalah to have lived nine hundred sixty nine years; nevertheless, that he was the longest liver of all the men of the first Age of the World, we need not grant, neither is he by Moses precisely so recorded to be. Indeed as to those ten generations, that from the Creation to the Deluge proceeded from Adam, by the line of Seth, with their several Ages, we must acknowledge it to be true, but whither those seven of the line of Cain, or any of their Progeny outlived any of those of the other ten, is not expressed in Sacred story. And it will seem more probable, saith Dr. Brown, That of the line of Cain, some were longer lived than any 
Dr. Bro. Pseudod. Epid. lib. 6. pag. 255.  of Seth, if we concede that seven generations of the one, lived as long as nine of the other .That Adam, who never was so young as any, was older than all, is conceived by learned men. And if the usual compute will hold, that men are of the same Age which are born within the same year, Eve was as old as her husband and Parent Adam, and Cain their son coetaneous to both .However, certain it is, that the Chinois, in vigour and perfect health, live commonly unto seventy, eighty or an hundred years of Age.  
The loss of Parents among them is not so much condoled by their children, but that children are as dear unto their Parents, from whence it proceeds, that their Nobility are so aversly disposed that the Emperor should mary any of their daughters, because when once setting foot within his Palace, they are eternally deprived of their ●…t. Hence, if beautiful, they conceal them 
〈◊〉. ●…rig. in Christ. E●…p. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 83.  from public view, jest more than ordinary notice should be taken of them, and information given accordingly to the Court. And hence, the Emperor's wife comes generally to be of the meanest of the people; not her extract, but beauty being respected. And it is a Maxim with their Literati, that to deprive a father of his child, is to take away a beam from the Sun, the source from the Fountain, the member from the body, and the branch from the tree. Thus, for fatherly affection and filial piety, China may given example to all Nations of the World. The union is reciprocal; the Parents indulge their children, and the children esteem no time more unfortunate, than that same hour, which gives beginning to the fatal period of their Parent's lives.  
In their Marriages they seem to have much Analogy with the Hebrews. For as in the Law of Moses, Levit. 18. These were prohibited to mary within certain degrees of consanguinity; so, by the Laws of their Forefathers, our Chinois were not to wed any of the same name, which to this day they observe: Again, as the Chinois have been accustomed to have two sorts of wives, 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 15. T. Godwin Ant. jud. lib. 6. cap. 4  a matrimonially wedded wife, and a Concubine, both of them accounted lawful; so, the Hebrews had two sorts of wives, a wife married with ●…uptial ceremonies, and a Concubine, both of them reputed lawful. As the wife of These was as Mistress, and the Concubine as an handmaid or servant; so, the Concubine of Those was in subjection to the true wife, and as a servant upon several occasions served her. Also the children by both wives were held legitimate in either Nation. As likewise when the Concubine had brought forth a son, the wife might, if she pleased sand her away, as Sarah did Hagar, Gen. 21. v. 10. But in China, where all these rituals are still observed, the Child stays behind, acknowledging only for his mother, his father's lawful wife.  
The Widows of the Chinique Gentry are genererally inaccessible to a second marriage. And their Virgins that by an untimely death have lost their Lovers, forsaking all worldly pleasures retire commonly into the desert mountains, leading in them a most deplorable and lamentable life, never by any allurements of their Parents or Friends to be reclaimed, until either Lions or Tigers entomb them in their bowels. But although as well their Virgins, as Widows are thus chastely resolved. Barrenness in wedlock nevertheless, is, by them as with the Hebrews placed in the number of their chiefest calamities, not only by their Kings and Rulers, but also by the meanest of the people. And to be enforced to departed, with the inheritance belonging to their Ancestors, is, they conceive the greatest misery that can befall them.  
We read of Solomon, that he prayed to God, to given him an understanding heart. 1 Reg. 3. v. 9 How nearly the First and Ancient Emperors of China may example this, let their History declare; For, being now upon their marriages, I shall only instance the prayer of a Chinois imploring a blessing upon his. In the Province of Honan, saith Martinius, one called Yetriang being to be married, 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 62.  is thus reported to have invoked Heaven; I require not Richeses, nor Pleasures, neither therefore would I take a wife, but pray for good children only. And by his wife he had three sons, which all proved most learned Philosophers, and just Governors. His memory remaineth not only in their Annals, but by a stately monument erected to his honour.  
As for interment of their dead, the Chinois 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 16.  have always used to bury every one in the place of the scpulture of his Progenitors, be it never so remote from that Territory where he dies; which happeneth oftentimes to their Rulers, who being not to be advanced to the Government of any place, within that Province where they were born, are sent to command in several other parts of the Empire; and thereby many times departing this life out of their own Country, are upon that occasion brought home, and buried therein. As the body of jacob was translated out of Egypt upon the same account, Gen. 50. v. 7. and buried in the same sepulchre, wherein these five Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah were laid, himself making the sixth; the first Letters of all their names being contained in that one name of ISRAEL. fo likewise were the bones of joseph carried up out of Egypt, and inhumed in Sychem in the land of Canaan, Exo. 13. v. 19 where in like manner the other Patriarches were buried; Act. 7. v. 16. And even by the modern jews this custom is observed at this day from a conceited opinion;; That if an Israelite be buried in any strange Country out 
T. Godwin Ant. jud. lib. 6. c. 5.  of the promised land, he shall not be partaker so much as of the Resurrection, except the Lord vouchsafe to make him hollow passages under the earth, through which his body by a continual volutation and rolling may be brought into the land of Canaan. Wherhfore from Italy, and other places where they are tolerated, I have heard, that oftentimes they fraught whole Ships with coffins of dead bodies, which are transported to the Ports of Syria, and thence conveyed into judaea, and there in●…erred.  
Furthermore, the Chinois observe the New and Full Moon-days with great ceremony, and reckon the year by the Moon like the Hebrews; nearly relating to whom, they have many more observances and institutions customary with them. Among others the like Commandments, which 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 29.  they print, and set up on the posts of their doors towards the street; As not to kill; not to steal; not to lie; to honour Father and Mother, etc. Semedo indeed thinks these not ancient, but that from all Antiquity, till their falling into Idolatry, they were not to make the resemblance of any thing in point of adoration, Martinius hath fully assured us. And how ancient soever the rest be, upon every day of the New and Full Moon, a little before Sunrising, at one and the same hour, they make solemn publication of them, in all the Cities, and all the streets throughout their whole Empire.  
In the Province of Suchuen the same Martinius relates a memorable thing to have happened. For 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 71.  they writ, saith he, that a certain woman, walking by the side of the river Chocung, which runs by the City of Kiating, perceived a reed in the water, from whence a voice proceeded, and taking it up found an infant lying therein (for the reeds or Canes in China are about the bigness of little vessels) which she carried home and brought up, and which not long after was called Yelang, and in those parts that tend into the West, gave beginning to the Kingdom of Yelang. And was not Moses found after the same manner in an Ark of bulrushes, taken up and educated by the daughter of Pharaoh? And what an high Princedom be afterwards attained, we all know.  
What should I say of the conversation of the Chinois? It enchants their familiars rather, than delights them. What of their Entertainments? They are stately and magnificent, and performed so silently, and in such goodly order, as is not by any pen to be expressed. What of the education of their Children? It makes all those admire that see them, being not brought up to wantonness of speech, ostentation in habits, alluring enticements, to liberty and pleasures; but unto duties beseeming their sex and condition; not knowing what either arrogancy or impudence means. So that their daughters not bring portions to their husbands; but their Husbands provide all things whatsoever that are needful for them. What of their servants? When every one, even the meanest, with due respect and awful silence, knows how to do, and doth it. What of the disposition of their Natures generally? Since, enjoying all kind of the most wealth commodities, by which they might infinitely enrich themselves, they cell them at inconsiderable prizes, desiring food and raiment only, as jacob did, Gen. 28. v. 20.  
We might acquiesce here, and now insist not longer on particulars, these being sufficient to declare, that China is the most ancient, and in all probability, was, the first planted Country of the World after the flood. But in regard it is much to be presumed that as well Asia as Europe is extremely indebted to this industrious Nation; from which as from the fountain they have drained all their chiefest Arts and Manufactures, somewhat more of their ingenuity is yet remaining to be said. For the Chinois invented and have had 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 4. p. 106  in use among them, the Loadstone and compass for Navigation, above eleven hundred years before the birth of CHRIST. An undoubted argument that the use thereof being so long time since found out by the Chinois, hath from them in my opinion, saith Martinius, been brought into other Countries.  
The making of paper the best undoubtedly of 
●…d. lib. 8. pag. 334.  the World, was invented by them, above an hundred and eighty years preceding CHRIST, before which time they used the barks and leaves of trees; and until they had invented ink, with a bodkin or stile of iron dextrously form their Letters. They writ also many things on Lamins or plates of metal, and also on vessels of molten metal, of which there are some yet remaining, which are held in no small esteem by the owners, and all that see them. But now they use paper, which is of so many sorts, and in so great abundance, that I am persuaded, saith Semedo, 
〈◊〉. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. pa. 1. cap. 6.  China in this exceedeth the whole universe; and is exceeded by noon in the goodness thereof.  
The making of Ink is among their Literati a liberal Art, as all things else that appertain to 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 107.  learning; and it is made by them of the smoke of oil, after the same manner possibly, as we do washing colour of the smoke of wood; and being not liquid but solid, they prepare it much after the like way, as our Painters do colours; for they grinned it on a smooth stone, dissolve it in water, and then use it, not with a pen but pencil made of the flocks of an Hare, so that whereas anciently, (as was remembered) they writ with a style of iron, they may now in regard of their pencil be said to paint rather, than writ their Characters. This Ink is usually brought into Europe, and the Letters, which we see, form thereon, (for it is cast out of an oblong or parallelogram mould,) are verses in praise thereof, the workman's name being added.  
The Art of Printing which had its original among them about the fiftieth year after 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 8. p. 353.  CHRIST, we own unto their studies also. Their manner is thus, they cut their Letters with an instrument of iron, as we do woodprints, upon a piece of Pear-tree, or some such other smooth wood, lightly gluing the written copy thereon, whereby their books are free from all Erratas. They are very dextrous at it, and will cut an whole sheet, as soon as a Composer with us can set one, and one man will print of fifteen hundred in a day. This commodity they have also, that they may be laid by for as many impressions as they please, and in the mean time print of, not more copies, than they found sale for, both which advantages are wanting in our manner of Printing.  
One of their Emperors by the means of Chemistry, found out that thrifty and frugal way of 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 30.  kill of men, by the invention of Guns and Gunpowder. But the time when, I found not in any Author. Their store of Powder is very great; in the use of their Guns they have little skill and lesle delight; but in making Fireworks are most curiously artificial, representing Trees, Fruits, Battles; with what not other rarities. About which at the solemnity of the New year, we have seen, saith Trigantius, at Hanking more 
N. Trig. in Chi. Exp. apud Sin▪ lib. 1. p. 18.  Powder spent in one month, than for two years would serve for continual War.  
The Manufacture also, of making and dying of Silk was invented and taught unto women by the wife of their Emperor jaus. And it is an honour to the Chinois, and worthy their reputation, saith Martinius, that, that kind of Manufacture, as from the original spring, was, into 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. Lib. 1. p. 38  Asia and Europe derived and brought from China.  
I had almost forgotten their Potter's mystery, the manner of their making of Porcelain dishes, cups, vases, and the like utensils; which the richest Cabinets of the greatest Princes not of Europe and Asia only, but throughout the whole World also, glory to enjoy; and for which the Chinois are most singularly famous. It is indeed, saith Semedo, the sole vessel in the Universe fo●… neat and delightful cleanliness; and therefore the Chinois reject to be served in plate, there being 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 4.  scarcely to be found among them, not not so much as in the Emperor's Palace, a vessel of silver of any considerable bigness, but generally all they use are Porcelain.  
It hath been commonly reported, that they make their Porcelain of Eggshells, or the shells of Sea-fish beaten to powder, which they cast up in an heap within the bowels of the Earth, and therein let it lie an hundred years at lest, before the matter will be ripe for making of those utensils. Which many ages even to this present have vulgarly received for a truth, hath nevertheless by learned men been much suspected always, and now, the same may be worthily laughed at.  
The Porcelain then of the best sort is made at a place called Sinktesim●… in the Province of Kiangsi, 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 1. pag. 117.  and in other Towns thereof likewise but not so good; the principal Magazine or Mart of it, and from whence it is dispersed throughout all China, is the Town of Urienien within the same Province, being distant from Sinklesimo about forty leagues. It seems very strange, that in all the precincts of Kiangsi there cannot any earth be found proper to make the same, but they are enforced to fetch it from the Province of Nanking, not far from the City of Hoeicheu, where neither can they make it, which seems no lesle strange, though there the material abounds. Some attribute the cause thereof to the quality of the water, others to the quality of the wood, or temperature of the fire. But whatsoever it be, certain it is, that the Earth, whereof they make their Porcelain, is taken out of the mountains of Hoang, that environ the said City of Hoeicheu, where they form it into square lumps, of the weight of three Catteos [which make about four pounds of our weight, allowing sixteen ounces to the pound] and in value half a Condrin [or fifteen pence sterling] which are transported to Sinklesimo, and those other places they make it at, by ordinary Mariners, who for avoiding all such deceits, as are commonly incident to the carriage and selling of Comodities and Merchandise, are obliged to take an Oath not to imbezil any, at lest those, that are marked with the Emperors Arms. As to the nature of the Earth it is very meager or lean, but fine and shining like Sables, which they temper in water to reduce it into the fashion of those little square lumps. When likewise at any time the Porcelain breaks, they stamp and pound the broken pieces, and again make other utensils thereof, which nevertheless have nothing of the lust●…e, brightness and beauty of the former. They prepare the earth and fashion it almost after the same manner, as the Italians do, for making of their dishes at Faenza, or, as the Hollanders for their white Potters-work. The Chinois are extremely quick and agile in giving perfection to these vessels, and very expert in enriching them with glorious colours, diaphanous and transparent. They represent upon them all forts of Animals, Flowers, and Plants, with an inimitable grace and propriety. They are so jealous also of this their Science, that one may sooner draw Oil out of an Anvil, than the lest secret of it from their mouths. Insomuch, that he passeth among them for one of the greatest Criminals, that reveals this Art to any, but his own children. They make use of Indigo or Woad (which groweth abundantly in the Southern Provinces of the Empire) when with blue they would paint their work. They are said likewise, to prepare their earth different ways; and that some make vessels of it, as they receive the same, and as it comes first to hand; and that some again quite contrary dry it, until it be as hard as a flint, then beaten and pound it in mortars or mills, which done they searce it, and with water k●…ead it like like dough, and thereof form their vessels, into what figure they please; which for a long time they expose to the winds and Sun, before they bring them to the Fire. Now, when they are throughly dried they put them into 
* Four●… 〈◊〉 xà voit bien vo●… hes.  furnaces of timber well stopped, whereto for fifteen days together they keep continual fire, which expired, they also let them stand therein as many days more, to the end they may cool gently, and be lesle apt to break; for experience hath taught them, that when they take them hot out of the fire, they break like glass. The fire must be made of very dry and light wood, otherwise the smoke blackens, and renders them cloudy, and dulls the nobleness of their gloss, which is not made or proceeds but from a strong, equal and proportionable heat. The thirty days being past, the Superintendent of this mystery comes to open the furnaces, and after having viewed those that are made; takes by way of Tribute the fifth part for the Emperor, according to the Law established in the Country.  
But whatsoever else in relation to their industry, 
I Nieuh. l'Amb. Or. par. 1. pag. 154.  we have remembered, or omitted their ingenuity in making of floating Islands, is not in silence to be buried. The structure of which is so graceful and natural, as that one would imagine them to be Islands indeed. These moving Machines are made of those reeds, which the Portugals call Bamboes', and which are bound together unto little joists with cords, but so artificially and neatly, that no moisture can ever offend the inhabitants, who devil in Cabins built and raised upon the same. All which are made of planks, mats, and such other light materials, and their streets are so well ordered, that one would conceive them to be little Villages, and some are so great, that they contain two hundred families. Upon these they commodiously transport their Wares and Merchandizes, and cell them to those which live upon the banks of the River Crocens. And for removing of them, they use no Sails, but either by strength of a●…m tow them, or let them drive with the water, to the place where they intent to traffic; where when arrived, they fix great stakes into the River, to which they fasten their Islands, during the time of their riding there,  
Much might be said of their Architecture; for Palaces and Public works especially, which are stupendious and prodigious rather, than magnificent and great. But being a particular discourse is more requisite for this, we shall forbear, and at present, from giving any other account thereof, desist.  
That the Descendants of Cham were great Masters in the knowledge of Arts and Sciences, is not to be denied. For we read, That Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Act. 7. v. 22. Which being spoken for his praise, and by way of Emphasis, argueth the learning of that People to be very great. Now, though much cannot be said in what particulars their wisdom did really consist; yet what manner of Learning the Chinois certainly had, as much at lest as conduceth to our purpose, you have briefly heard; That their knowledge in Divine matters, of the true God especially, was taught them by Noah, Martinius hath positively assured us, there is no doubt to be made. And we may almost boldly say, that the circumstances are so many, and of such weight, for Noah's living both before and after the flood in China; that more, and more valid cannot be produced to make good, si sacra excipias, any assertion of whatever kind. But how great soever the consequence thereof is, to make our Essay probab●…e; Arguments of no lesle validity, together with the consent of Authors have made appear; that China was peopled ere Nimrod and his Troops undertook the work for building of the Tower of Babel, and before the Confusion of Tongues happened. Wherhfore having thereby, according to the Scripture fixed the PRIMITIVE Language in China; let us in the next place inquire, whither this Language may, by the Commerce and Intercourse, which the Chinois have had with other Nations, be altered; or by the Conquests they have undergone, forgotten utterly and extirpated.  
BUT first it will not be impertinent, to let you know, the manner observed by their Ancestors of old, for the peopling and enlarging of their Dominions, whereby what ensueth will the more clearly be understood; and whereby they will be found not as the Offsprings of Cham and japhet, through the greedy thirst of prey, cruel desire of revenge, and sacred ambition of rule, to have usually invaded their confining neighbours. But by just and peaceable plantations, to have settled themselves throughout the now China. For, as Martinius saith, It is not to 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 4. p. 134.  be imagined, that in those times their Empire extended over all China, as now, for it scarcely comprehended as then, an indifferent part of the present Magnitude. For, as the first Planters thereof coming from the West, began to inhabit the Province of Xensi, in that part which lieth most towards the West, so the heads of their several families by degrees sought out new seats from thence. For, after the Province of Xensi, the next Hanan, Peking, Xantung began to be inhabited. Which Provinces Imperial Dominion being thence forward established among the Chinois, were all governed by a single person. The form of the Government was just all the Provinces which lay alongst the great river of Kiang towards the North, acknowledging one Emperor, and to his Authority and rule of their own voluntary accord subjecting themselves.  
But under Yuus, who was the third in succession from jaus, and who brought the Empire to an hereditary Dominion; all those Countries also, that lie on the South of that River were surveyed, and Geographical descriptions made of them. The people of them nevertheless were as yet but f●…w, and submitted not to the settled Monarchy of China. But afterwards when the Emperors had oftentimes many sons, excepting him that was Heir apparent, and to succeed; the rest were either created Royallets of some particular Territory, or else, by now and then leading forth of Colonies, sought out new habitations, and planted those Southern parts. After this manner then setting up new Kingdoms, the people being delighted with the virtue of their Princes, their inventing, instituting, and encouraging human Arts, Husbandry especially, and others of the like kind, readily obeyed. Thus by degrees all China, far and wide, in every part, as now, become to be inhabited; and as it was out of one body and one Offspring peopled, so at length it grew into one body and form of Empire.  
Having throughly settled themselves at home, their numbers multiplying, they began to look abroad, and after their usual custom by sending forth of Colonies planted the Peninsula of Corea, with the Island of japan, which glories of her descent from them; so java, Ceilan, or, as Martinius observes, Sinlan rather, because first peopled 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 6. pag. 236.  by the Chinois. As also the Island of St. Laurence, of which there can be not more assured testimony, than that it is still possessed by the Chinois, especially in the road of St. Clara; where the Inhabitants are white people, and at this very day speak the Chinique Tongue; as to the Seamen putting in to that harbour is well known. And not only these, but likewise most of the Oriental Islands are of their Plantation. For, having Shipping, and the use of the Compass, wither might they not transport themselves?  
In the Continent likewise that Siam, Camboya, and the adjacent Regions drew their original from the Chinois is evident. From whence it proceeds that they use the Chinique Letters, yea, and express the denominations of numbers, not by Figures but Characters, as the Chinois do.  
And I could almost be apt not longer to admire at the stately Structures of Mexico; or how Cusco come to be such a regular City; nor wonder at the ingenuity, magnificence and government of those people, seeing Martinius is disposed to conceive, that from China they had their 
Id. lib. 8. pag. 358.  beginning also. I could be of opinion, saith he, that beyond Corea having with their Ships penetrated the Straitss of Anian likewise, the Chinois frequented America, that part especially which lieth towards the West. And that, that people happily had their original from them. For their complexion, the manner of wearing their hair, and the Air of their faces, maketh it very probable to me, of certainty nevertheless I can say nothing thereof.  
But G. Hondius in his original of the Americans is confident of it, and by many rational arguments very probably proves the same. For, as he saith, it must of necessity be, that such well 
〈◊〉. Hond. de Or. Amer. lib. 4. p. 223  ordered manner of living, Arts, Buildings, Policy, Writing, Books, great industry and inclination to all kind of learning, as among those of Peru and Mexico may be observed was derived from a more polite people than those, by whom the rest of America was planted. Which polite people are asserted by him to be the Chinois. Now, in regard my discourse tends to another end, I shall unto what Hondius hath learnedly pleaded for them, in relation to those of Mexico, add only, that their public minds, manner of Oratory, with their grave, succinct, and wise say, do in great likelihood confirm them to be originally extracted from China. The Architecture of the Mexicans, as also of the Peruvians, is by him much insisted upon; because for the stupendiousness and vast dimensions of the stones it equally corresponds with the works of China, whereunto I shall likewise say, that whereas the ornaments of the Temple at Mexico, than which a more stately was scarcely ever seen, consisted chief of Dragons and Serpents, variously and with much ingenuity composed; it is manifest, that the Pagods and Regal Palaces in China, are all with the same sort of enrichments, and in the same order generally adorned; the Dragon being the Standard Royal of the Chinique Empire. That such like ornaments in buildings were used by other people, either in the East or elsewhere, I have not read in any Author, which hath oftentimes made me very solicitous from whence the Mexicans should have them, they being graceful, great and noble, but I could never found it out, until the late histories of the Chinois come to my perusal, which have clearly satisfied me, that the manner of them is peculiarly proper to China, was brought from thence, and in memory and for the honour of that Monarchy continued by the Mexicans.  
As for Peru, whereas Hondius will have it to be peopled by the Chinois, transported thither under the conduct of Mango the first of the Ingas about four hundred years since, I conceive, they had discovered it, and therein settled themselves divers Ages before. For, although Mango with his followers might at that time to avoid the fury of a prevailing Enemy forsake his native Country, and landing in Peru, erect that Empire; nevertheless considering, that the Spaniards at their entrance, found the massive monuments there, to bear such a decayed Aspect, as that they demonstrated a far higher Antiquity, than the date assigned; and that it was ever customary with the Chinois, to sand forth the surplusage of their numbers to shifted for themselves, and seek out new habitations; such castlings might in their wand'ring throughout the South Sea (most of the Oriental Islands being formerly inhabited by their Offspring) fall with the coast of Peru, and finding it rich and delightful, possess themselves thereof, and settle there. until Mango with his company arrived, & united them all under his own Sovereignty, as Hondius hath delivered. The rather, in regard that after their native Country was cleared of that prevailing Enemy, which most Writers, though erroneously call the Cathayans, of whom, ere long, the Chinois voluntarily freed all the Islands, and all their foreign Plantations from obedience to them, and rested contented with those bounds, which God and Nature had primitively bestowed on them. And herein their contempt of vain glory is very observable, for how powerful soever they are, were, or might have been, if thirst of Dominion had provoked them, I never yet heard any of them all boast of 
N. Trig. de Christ. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 59 M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 25.  the extent or greatness of their Empire, saith Trigantius. And this now brings us to their War.  
The first War ever read of in the World was made in China, happening in the Province of Peking, where, on the mountain Fan, neare the City now called Yenking, their Emperor Xinnungus the Successor of Fobius, was, they say, slain about the year before the birth of CHRIST two thousand, six hundred, ninety seven; which according to the Vulgar computation makes it before the flood about four hundred years. It was civil, and of this Kind I found many, and most bloody contests to have been among them; but managed with such Heroic valour, and stratagemical policy, as far surmounts all Macedonian, Punic, or any other known conduct in the World. These Wars proceeded principally from the aspiring minds of the Royalets in the Southern Plantations, who were oftentimes many in one and the same Province, and ruled absolutely under the Sovereign, as so many petty Kings; though they paid Homage and Fealty to him, much according to the same manner, as Dukes and Earls do, for the estates they hold of the Emperors and Kings in Europe.  
But after they were by little & little increased in power, sumptis in affines armis taking up arms 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 6. page, 243.  against their own kindred and affinity, they troubled the whole Empire; out of Ambition chief to reduce the Province in which they governed, and were at first settled, under the immediate command of themselves, and their own issue without dependence upon a superior. And sometimes moreover attempting to usurp upon the Monarchy itself; when either they found their Sovereign was but weak in Council, or had dis-obliged his people; till in the end they were all brought under absolute subjection to the Monarch, and their Countries annexed to the Imperial Crown, as they are at this day  
But such civil disputes, you will happily say, could 'cause no change of Language, not more than the like contests did between judah and Israel, being they were intestine, and made among the Natives themselves of one Lineage, and the same speech. For, it is not to be found that ever foreign forces, were by any the most ambitious of all Royalets called in, or when worsted invited to assist them with their Aides. And thus the Irish Tongue notwithstanding the Domestic wars, that almost perpetually succeeded between the several Kings of that Island, in the times of old, and notwithstanding Danes, Norvegians, and Scots were frequently waged by them to oppose the prevailng party, remained uncorrupted, and so continueth at this present time. Now, though these examples, and several others of the like kind, may dictate to our reason, that by such wars, as these, their speech could not be altered; nevertheless I must say, that you will found, what through their long continuance, sometimes without intermission for three hundred years together, what through the living of the people without restraint in the mean while, and becoming by Degrees thereby as rude and barbarous, as the Regions they inhabited were rough and mountainous, these civil discords in China, did produce some difference in the Language of these Provinces, where the greatest fury of the war fell. But what this difference is, and in what Provinces it doth differ, and in which without change or alteration it remains pure and perfect, we shall in its proper place, not forget, particularly to remember.  
Heylin affirmeth, that it is not lawful for the King of China to make any war but merely Defensive; and so, saith he, they enjoy a perpetual 
Heyl. Cosm. Pag. 886.  peace. For, in regard war is equally destructive to the victors and vanquished, Princes, People, Treasure being always consumed thereby; the Chinois are of opinion, That nothing is more unworthy their Emperor, than to enter into arms unconstrained; nothing more inglorious, than to seek for glory in the slaughter of his subjects; nor more inhuman, than men by men to be cut in pieces. And hence without doubt it is, Trigantius tells us, that although he searched 
N. Trig. de Christ. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 59  diligently into their Annals, from four thousand years unto his time to inform himself what foreign conquests had been made by them, yet he could never found mention made of any: and that though oftentimes also, he seriously discoursed with divers of their Literati about them, they all resolved him, that they never made, nor ever had been inclined to make any such. And therefore we are not to wonder, that we hear so little of their invasions; For, the wars excepted, which Martinius by a more full and free liberty of study, hath of late found out to have been undertaken by their Emperor's Chingus and Hiarows their History, as to such expeditions, appears to be very silent.  
Chingus surnamed Xius was the first that by general consent was declared supreme Monarch of all China; and the first Emperor of the Family of Cina; from whence Martinius conceives the name China originally proceeded. This Prince having compelled several Royalets of the southern Provinces to submit wholly to his obedience, and thereby wonderfully enlarged the Chinique Empire; extended his arms into remote parts, and both by sea and land overran all India, as far as Bengala, Scori, and Camboya. At which time being about two hundred and forty years before CHRIST the name and same of the Chinois first become known unto foreign Nations, to their adjoining neighbours the Indian's especially; among whom it afterwards stuck, and from them the Portugals at their achievements in India gained intelligence of China. He made war upon the Tartars likewise, and by his victories in a short time enforced them to abandon their habitations, and fly into the more remote Regions of the North for safety.  
And this Chingus it was, that to secure his 
Id. pag. 238 A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 5. pag. 217.  Empire from the eruptions of that people; erected that stupendious and wondered work of the wall touched on before. This wall beginning at the sea-coast in Leotung, extendeth through China unto Lyncao a City of Xensi, scited on the banks of the river Croceus; and except where opposed by the horrid and inaccessible mountains encloseth not one, but four entire Provinces, or Kingdoms rather, within its circuit. The whole length of it, the wind according to the different situation of the places considered; for on this side of China in regard of the mountains levelly ground appears very rarely, is three hundred Germane Leagues, or twelve hundred English miles (accounting as Martinius doth fifteen Germane Leagues to a degree) being fortified with Castles and Towers in convenient places, with Ports neare them to issue forth as necessity requires. The height of it is thirty Cubits, the breadth twelve and sometimes fifteen, (the Chinique cubit being lesle than our foot by one only eight part of an inch) having a Parapet on each side, for the greater security of those that pass thereon. In the building thereof three of ten of the people throughout the whole Empire were continually employed in course for five years together, and whosoever made any part of it, that a wedge of iron might be thrust into the joints of the stones, was for his negligence immediately put to death. The foundation of that end of it, which runs into the Sea at Leotung was made by sinking of Ships two furlongs deep into the waves, loaden not with stone, but massive iron, as it was digged out of the Mine. It is built of great squared Asteler on the outside, the Core being filled up with flints; was erected in the two hundred and fifteenth year before the birth of CHRIST; and at this very day contemning all injuries of Time, remains in a manner without any fissure or settling. For the defence of it the Emperors of China do almost always keep ten hundred thousand men in continual pay. Thus Martinius in his Atlas of China, as I found him truly cited by Kircherus.  
The other Hiavowr, the sixth Emperor of the Family of Hana, is no lesle famous for his Love to learning, and learned men, than for his Magnanimity 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 8. p. 345  and valour; and being of a great and excelse mind, as if the fame of Alexander of Macedon had arrived at his Court, designed to bring the whole World under his subjection. But fearing l●…st some of the Royalets might, during the absence of himself and forces, attempt to raise new stirs, as since his family began to reign they had; he devised several Laws to restrain them. Ordaining, that for the furure the Lands granted them in right of favour by the former Imperial Decrees, should at their deaths be equally divided, as in Gavel-kind, among their children lawfully begotten; whereby in time they become reduced to such penury, as utterly disabled them, either to maintain the dignity of their Ancestors, or practise against their Sovereign's, as anciently they had done. He ordained also, that upon the Decease of any of them without lawful Issue, their lands should escheat unto the Crown from whence they had originally been alienated.  
Having then by these and the like constitutions provided for the safety of his Empire at home, he resolved upon Wars abroad, and by his Lieutenants subdued many Kingdoms of India, to the Chinique Empire, in that part especially which lieth towards the South from Ganges inclusive to the Kingdom of Bengala. But taking afterwards the field in his own person, he brought under his Dominion Pegu, the Kingdom of the Laios, with Camboya, Cothin-China, and many other Countries and Islands. And to vindicate himself and Subjects upon ●…ste Tartars, that were their ancient and natural Enemies, and ever ready upon all advantages to infested their borders, as the Scots sometimes did ours in hope of spoil; invaded their Countries with three mighty Armies conducted by his Generals; and having put them almost all to the sword, and made about the year before CHRIST one hundred and twenty an absolute Conquest of them even to the North-sea, divided Cathay among his Captains and soldiers in recompense of their valour.  
But these by little and little in long tract of time forgetting the manners and customs of China, by perpetual commerce and conversation with the Tartars degenerated, and took up their customs; so that in the end, though nevertheless after many Centuries of years, they began to invade their native Country. For about the year of our Redemption twelve hundred and six, till when (such ordinary commotions excepted as usually attended great Monarchies) the Chinois had lived in continual peace and tranquillity these Cathaians conquered China. But how? They spent almost, saith Heylin, as much time in the conquest thereof, as they did in the possession 
Heyl. Cos●… pag. 871.  of it. For after they had reigned therein ninety years only (seventy saith Martinius) they were totally expelled again, and were no losers thereby. For, instead of compelling the Chinois whilst they had them under obedience to submit to their Laws and Customs, they themselves submitted to the Rites and Manners of those, whom they had for that time subjected; applying diligently themselves to understand and learn, the Language, Conditions, Arts, and Manufactures of the Chinois, which at their expulsion they carried into Cathay with them. As the Romans did the Greek tongue into Italy, after the Conquest of Greece; and as by their victories in Asia (the difference always between civility and riot considered) they brought to Rome Effiminacy, Luxury, Prodigality, which were in use chief in that Country.  
This was the most severe misfortune, that ever till that time befell the Chinois, after the prescription of so many hundreds of Ages to an indisturbed felicity, considering nevertheless that the Cathayans had a desire by their industrious recovery of them, to maintain the Arts and Sciences of their Progenitors, it could not produce any great alteration in the manners of the Chinois, much lesle in their MOTHER Tongue.  
Here again we may observe; that as the Israelites from their first coming into the land of Canaan, lived in the height of all prosperity, saving some civil contentions happening between those of judah and her fellow Tribes, never knew what the fury of a Conqueror meant, till after they had overwhelmed themselves in Idolatry: So the Chinois from their first beginning to be a people, having lived in all worldly happiness, the like intestine broils between their families excepted, never understood what the rage of a foreign victor imported, till they also had drowned themselves in the worship of Idols. Both famous Examples, that innovations in Religion are always attended with dreadful judgements.  
But let us not omit the account, which Martinius 
M. Mart. Bell. Tart. pag. 1. fol.  gives concerning this Invasion. In this tract of time the Western Tartars forgetting their ancient vigour of mind, and warlike spirits, which the pleasures and delights of China had mollified, being also weakened by so long a peace, become of a sweeter temper, and received a deep tincture of the Nature and disposition of the Natives of that Country. But though I found him thus rendered into English, harken to him nevertheless in his own words. Interea Sinicis deliciis fracti, Sinicos induerunt mores, & paulatim fortitudinem Tartaricam dediscentes, nimiâ debilitati pace, Sinae evaserunt; So that you see the Tartars become Chinois, not the Chinois, Tartars; whereby it is most manifest, that neither their Language nor Customs could be prejudiced by this Conquest.  
Now you cannot but take notice, that Martinius calls those People the Western Tartars, which our Writers, and divers others call Cathayans; and though they have extremely erred thereby; yet nevertheless rather, than on the sudden I should seem to contradict so general an opinion, I have thus far followed them therein; For Cathay is no other Country, than the six Northern Provinces of China, as Mangin the 
M. Ma●…, Atl. Sin. pag. 28.  nine Southern; which were so named by these Tartars, upon this invasion of There's; and which Paulus Venetus being personally present in this War accordingly so calleth And no wonder saith Martinius, for by the Tartars and Moors that use to bring tribute every three years to the Chinique Emperor, they are called Mangin and Cathay at this day.  
Add hereunto that jacobus Golius in his treatise 
I Gol. Additam. de Regne Cath. pag. 1. in fol.  of Cathay tells us, the Cathayans and Chinois are all one people, and their customs & Language have been one and the same throughout all ages.  
Heylin telleth us, that not long after they had freed themselves from this Enemy, Tamerlane with an army of Tartars entered China, and having won a battle, and taken the King prisoner, upon some acknowledgement of Tribute released him, and quitted the Country again, as on the like success Alexander the Great did the Kingdom of Porus. But Martinius positively maintaineth, 
Id. Bel. Tart. p●…. p●…  that Tamerlane never invaded, nor ever was in China, much lesle conquered or brought it under tribute, ut perperam quidam scripserunt, as some, saith he, have falsely written; for he flourished about the year one thousand four hundred and six; at which time Taichangus Emperor of China, and the second of the Taimingian race (the Tartars being before beaten out of his Kingdom) governed peaceably all the Provinces included within the compass of that vast Wall formerly mentioned.  
Until the time the Chinois were in such manner 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 22.  subdued by the Tartars, divers of the Royalets had enjoyed their Principalities, but their victorious Emperor Humuù having wholly expelled the enemy, totally suppressed them likewise; and about four hundred years since, united all China, as now it is, to the absolute obedience of one sole Monarch; and not only reestablished in the territories of those Royalets the ancient manner of the Chinique Policy; but also adding thereunto many new Laws, brought thereby the whole Empire into that form of government, wherein it standeth at this present.  
By this union the Chinois enjoyed the like Halcyon days, yea generally, far more the Royalets being extirpated, than their Forefathers had done, for many generations together; until the people after an incursion of the Tartars of Niuche, 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 115.  about the year one thousand six hundred thirty six falling into rebellion, and not many years afterwards taking Peking, where their Emperor Zunchinius, having first with his own hands killed his wife and daughter, in despair hanged himself in a garden of his Palace; Usangueius his surviving General called in the Nieuchean Tartars to his assistance; who shortly after setting up for themselves, crowned Emperor of China, Xunchius a child of about six years of Age, the son of Zungteus King of Niuche; which Zungteus from his infancy had secretly and unknown been brought up in China; where together with their weaknesses, he had learned the manners, sciences, doctrine, Letters and Language of the inhabitants; wherhfore he much loved, and was no lesle beloved again by all the Chinois. Whose miseries endured in this War, from their own Countrymen the Rebels especially, as in all places it evermore happens where Rebellion once gets the upperhand, are almost inexpressable.  
But how calamitous soever their condition was, manifest it is▪ that they received no prejudice in their MOTHER Tongue or Learning of old. For the Tartars upon subjecting and settling the China Empire under their own dominion, neither altered the Policy, nor ancient form of government; but permitted their Literati to govern the Towns and Provinces as before, and left unto them the promotions, and examinations of their Characters, as formerly they were accustomed to enjoy. At which examinations, as the Doctors of the Chair in the Universities with us, with much more diligence and rigour nevertheless, and indeed with great severity; they appose and make trial what Proficients those that stand Candidates for preferment are become in their Literature and Characters of their Language, in the study of which by their books written, not only their Learning, but also the Eleg●…ncy of their Speech consisteth. So that, if in making their compositions upon such Themes as the Examinator gives them, they writ not the Character most exactly true, (being not so fantastical as the Europaeans, to 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. c. 8.  be weary of their old words, but using all possible means to preserve them in their ancient purity) they are dismissed without taking their degrees, how excellent soever otherwise their composures be; with liberty nevertheless to return again for their promotion at the next examinations, which are commonly held at every three years' end.  
But of the ratification of these proceed, and likewise of their ancient manner of government by the Tartars, Nieuhoff in his own words shall more fully satisfy you. Ils ne changerent ni 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 123.  la politic Chinoise, ni la ancienne form du government; mais permirent aux Philosophes de l' Empire de gouverner les Villes, & les Provinces comme auparavant, et laisserent les promotions et examens des lettrès à l' accoûtommèe. The same is by Martinius confirmed, saying, they changed nothing in their politic government; nay, they permitted the usual customs of the Philosophers of China, to govern the Towns and Provinces; they left also the same examens as were used for the approbation of learned men. His own words being. Stylum Politices Sinicae 
M. Mart. Bell. Tart. pag. 15.  modu●…ue gubernationis omnino non mutarunt; imo Sinicis Philosophis, ut antea, regendas Urbes ac Provinci●…s concesserunt; examina Literatorum, ●…t ante●…, reliquerunt. And so far, it seems, the Chinois are from having their ancient constitutions altered by this Conquest, that he telleth us likewise, they have already induced the Tartars to forsake some of their barbarous 
Id. pag. 3.  customs, which for many ages together they had used.  
NOW therefore as their Conquests will not, so the Commerce and Intercourse, which they have had with Nations of a different speech, and which is the main part of Heylins' objection, cannot, given change unto their Language, much lesle branch it into several languages, or Dialects of the same one Language. For by their Fundamental Laws, the Chinois are neither permitted to go into the Countries of strangers, nor admit any strangers into their own. Inter caeteras leges, ista caput obtineat, quâ omnis exterorum in China aditus intercluditur; Among their 
A. Kir. Changed iii. par. 2. p. 116.  other laws, the chiefest, saith Kircherus, is that, by which all access of strangers is prohibited into China. And such strict care is taken for the execution of this law, that it is almost impossible for any stranger to remain concealed among them, because his very speech, if nothing else, will betray him to be a foreiner; and when detected, he is immediately apprehended, put to torments, and if he escape with life, never suffered to return out of the Country again.  
Over the door of every house, saith the same 
Id. par. 4. pag. 1●…8, 169.  Kircherus, is affixed a Table, or Escutcheon, wherein the number of men living therein, together with their condition is set down; to the end that the Lau-ye (the Portugals style them Mandarines, we may call them Prefects or their Magistrates) to whose office the knowledge thereof belongs, may, by a memorable politic way, understand how many men every City containeth, aswel for avoiding seditions, as collecting of Tributes. Therefore, i●… aught not to seem a wonder to any, as the same Author observeth, if that strangers by what means soever at length getting into China, are immediately detected, their hosts being under grievous punishments obliged to discover them.  
And though the Jesuits have of late times obtained permission to reside therein, whensoever nevertheless their supreme Moderator intends to sand any Novice thither, he is in the Island of Macao first diligently instructed, both to speak and writ the Chinique Language, lest being discovered for want thereof, he should before arriving at their Residency, be imprifoned, and the Society thereby put to infinite trouble and expense to procure his liberty, as oftentimes even since toleration granted them they have been. By which toleration they have so far prevailed upon the Natives, that were it not for Polygamy, that vast Empire might long 
Id. par. 2. pag. 117.  ere this time have been converted to Christianity.  
Nor is it only thus criminal, for strangers to 
Heyl. Cosm. ●…ag. 866.  come into China; but also, saith Heylin, for any Chinois to go out of the same, all politic means being endeavoured by them to prevent innovation in their manners, by which the old being neglected, and laid aside, their ancient way of government might be disturbed, and the safety 
A Sem. Re. de la Cin. par. 1. c. 29.  of their state endangered. And we read that this in part at lest the Hebrews were commanded to observe, for the same reason also. For whensoever any Nation or People, by introducing new, altar their ancient customs, the destruction of that People or Nation not far of approacheth. Thus the Commonwealth of Rome by taking up prodigality and voluptuousness, instead of her ancient temperance and sobriety, lost her liberty. And thus the Chinois themselves, as you shall shortly hear, become subject to the Tartars.  
Howbeit it seemeth, that the extreme jealousy of their customs is not the sole cause of these restraints, but lest by permitting liberty of Intercourse the wealth and weakness of their Empire should be discovered; for though their conquests and civil broils renders them essere stata gente bellicosa, è di valore, (to use Semedo's words) to have been anciently a valiant and 
Id. part. i. cap. 20,  warlike Nation; now nevertheless, by their surfeiting on continual peace, and long enjoyment of all variety of pleasures, no people under heaven the like, they are become generally effeminate; and in regard no preferment is to be hoped for, but by becoming excellent in their learning, they all unanimously, as it were, apply themselves to the study thereof. So that the soldiery are no otherwise accounted of with them, than the basest sort of people are with us.  
But in regard whatever is prohibited, is commonly most desired; strangers, their Laws notwithstanding, found out a way to creep in among them. For considering that upon an Embassy made by the Tartars about the year forty eight before CHRIST, in tender of their perpetual submission to the Chinique Empire, Ambassadors might be received; several people under the pretence of the like addresses have oftentimes since gained admittance into the Country, and made some trading therein, privately nevertheless, and not otherwise, as Martinius 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 2. p. 65.  informs us. For whereas China, saith he, is so shut up against strangers, that no access is easily allowed to any, saving Ambassadors; Turks, Laios, Samarchandians, and those of Tibeth by land, and the Siamites with Camboyans by sea, come into China; where, under colour of Embassy, they negotiate private commerce. Observe herewith what Nieuhoff relateth; No man can 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 2. p. 8.  enter China except Ambassadors, unless with resolution to end his days therein, so strong is the opinion of this people, who for many Ages have been persuaded, that they shall be betrayed and sold to some foreign Prince. They cannot traffic with their neighbours without licence from their Emperors; and if they be necessitated to sand Ambassadors into other Kingdoms, they hardly found any that will undertake the charge; and whosoever accepts the same, is no more or lesle lamented or bewailed by his Relations, than if he were going to his grave. So hateful is the knowledge of strange countries, and conversation with strangers to them. Either they know not foreign Nations, or contemn them, Says Martinius. 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. in Epist. ad Lect.   
But the Chinois considering, that these Embassies are but feigned, and that to espy and corrupt them rather, than for any submission or amities sake such addresses are made, given them reception accordingly (as from Martinius, Semedo, Trigautius, and several misfives of their Society we have collected) after this manner. So soon as the Ambassador either by land enters upon their confines, or from sea puts in to any of their ports, a guard is set immediately upon him, by which (some few being allowed for his splendour and ostentation sake to accompany him) he is brought unto the next Mandarine; who, the place from whence he come known, assigns him to the Palace for him, and his Retinue to reside in, placing good guards upon them, lest any should enter or come forth without his licence, all manner of necessaries, aswel for provisions as carriages, how long soever they stay within the Country, being provided for them at the public charge. The Mandarine takes a memorial also of their goods, which with incredible expedition by a Currier (for at every ten furlongs Chinois, which make somewhat lesle than three of our English miles, they continually place one) is sent to the Emperor at his Court, with the name of the Ambassador, from what Country and Prince he comes, what number of followers attends him, and what Presents and other things he brings; signifying likewise the great desire that the Ambassador hath to make his address unto the Imperial Court. If by the precise day, according to the limitation in their laws, no answer appeareth from the Emperor, then the Ambassador is presently sent away again re infecta. But if the Emperor granteth his access, then the Mandarine takes great care, that not any of them be suffered to pass into the inner parts of the Empire, but directly to the place where the Emperor resideth; and therefore sends him and his Attendants unto the next Mandarine, under guards nevertheless like Captives, though time out of mind they have been their Friends and Allies, not permitting them to see any thing, much lesle converse with any man throughout their whole journey; and at nights, like brute beasts in stables, they are, under I know not how many locks and keys, shut up in the Palaces appointed for them to lodge in. And thus they are conducted from Mandarine to Mandarine after the same manner (as we pass beggars in England from one Constable to another) until they arrive where the Emperor resides. Where commonly after some short attendance, the Ambassador is led, not before the Emperor, for he neither seethe, nor speaketh with him; but the Council of Rites: who by the Royal order treat with him, and receiving his Presents given him his dispatch; and of the rest of his Merchandise which he brought, if the Emperor desireth any thing, he sendeth to see and buy it. At his departure the Ambassador is rewarded with much more in value by far than he presented. This done, and returning to his Palace, power is given him to vend the remainders of his goods, which either himself or those with him, brought with them to the Court; or left behind at the place where the rest of their company, or Caravan rather, as may be said, were kept at their first coming to the Country. For, in regard they come but rarely, their numbers are usually very great; but these are not permitted to enter within the Empire, but for their abode have some Villages assigned them without the Wall; where having sold their own wares, they may buy others likewise, so that they do it in presence of their guards. And when at length they have made sale of their commodities, and ended their whole Trade, the Ambassador and his company being conveyed to them, in the like manner as they went from them at first, they all return very richly laden to their own Countries again, though by their Commerce not any thing the wiser for intelligence, nor the Chinois one jota the worse either in their form of Government or Language.  
But it may be now demanded, what needeth all this Policy, this circumspection, or why such peremptory Laws against the admission of strangers? When Nature herself seemeth to have so provided for them, as if she had decreed they should never have been so much as known, or discovered to the rest of the World, or seen by them rather, much lesle molested with invasions, or corrupted with the access of foreiners. For, from Trigautius, Kircherus telleth us, That 
〈◊〉. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 4. p. 164.  Nature lest any entrance should be permitted unto any to come within China, hath, to the North, and Northwest (besides the Wall of three hundred Germane Leagues) enclosed it with a vast and endless desert of sand; on the East and South so munited it with the most dangerous and yet unknown currents of the East and South Ocean, with obscure rocks and unfaithful harbours, as that without manifest shipwreck, what through the violence and cruelty of the winds, what through the most impetuous ebb and flow of the sea, the shores are scarcely approachable. And lest from the West any should obtain entrance, behold Nature hath obstructed the passes and avenues that way into it, with an unapproachable, inaccessible, and to this day impenetrable enclosure of mountains, harbouring so many, & such cruelly wild Beasts, and deadly stinging Serpents, as that, with a certain body as it were of garrison soldiers, she hath so armed it, as from this part no mortal man can ever hope for passage.  
But through all these obstructions of Nature and Policy; both Policy and Nature have contributed the means, whereby not in learned Greece or pleasant Italy, but in the remote and hitherto unknown China, are now at last found out, the true Indigenes, that ever since the flood of Noah, being born and bred within their own Country, never permitted or admitted conversation with foreign people. But living contentedly at home, in all abundant prosperity, under their own vines, and under their own fig-trees, their swords being turned into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, have consumed at lest four thousand years without commixture or commerce with other Nations.  
From their demeanour towards strangers Heylin 
Heyl. Cosm. pag. 858.  calls them an unsociable people; but whither they were unsociable thereby or not certain it is that their peace and safety consisted therein. Quamdiu ignoti caeteris vixere mortalibus, tam diu fuere faelices; as long as they lived unknown to the rest of mankind, so long they lived happy, 
Is. Vossius de Aetat. Mun. pag. 46.  saith Vossius. For by once only infringing these Laws, and granting liberty of Trade to the Tartars of Niuche, though but in Leotung a Province in the very utmost North-East corner of their Empire, that war by degrees, and that rebellion took rise, which by afterwards calling in those Tartars, as was said, is likely to prove their fatal and final ruin. So dangerous and destructive it is, to altar the ancient and fundamental constitutions of a Kingdom.  
Thus hath been fully manifested, that Commerce and Conquest, the two principal Agents in all sublunary mutations, have had no influence to extirpate, altar, or change either the Laws, Customs, or Language of China. Neither hath Time itself, which challengeth so great a Prerogative in the vicissitude of things, had, through the revolution of all Ages, since the general Deluge, power sufficient to supplant them. But lest this may seem to be suspected, Martinius forgets not positively to affirm, That the same customs both at home and abroad; the same Letters; and the same fashion of habit, as of old; they all use throughout their universal Empire, how far soever it extends even at this day, Hear 
M. Mart. Sin Hist. lib. 1. p. 35.  him in his own words, Omnes enim domi forisque moribus, omnes iisdem literis, & eodem corporis cul●… in universo, quâ patet, imperio etiam hodie utuntur. Unde conjectari potest, quanta sit animorum in iis conjunctio, qui adeo nulla in resunt inter se divers●…, Whereby may be conjectured, saith he, how great a conjunction of minds there is among them, that not so much as in any one thing they differ among themselves.  
THE objection made by Doctor Heylin being now thus fully answered, our subject requires, to given you some account of the Language and Letters of the Chinois; which (even that little, that hitherto is arrived at our knowledge) in regard of their great Antiquity, & unalterable usage will be found sufficiently enough, to make our Essay probable at lest. And about this I shall not longer detain you, than that I may therewith bring my discourse conveniently to a period. Not that language I mean of the Southern and other Colonies, which by nursing up the people in barbarity, through the ambitious negligence of the Royalets, is differently pronounced, and from whence it comes to be said, that many Provinces in China have a different speech. But their true MOTHER and NATURAL Tongue, which from all Ages hath been used by them in their first plantations, and ancient Demeasns of the Crown, and which by their Characters originally composed to the same, is spoken genuinely perfect unto this day. Trigautius and Semedo call it Quonhoa, or the language of the Mandarines in regard of the Elegancy, and commodiousness thereof; Martinius the language of the Literati, not so much because the pronunciation of it is learned by the Natives from their Cradles, as is by some conceived; but for that it is spoken purely and elegantly over all China by their learned men, according to their written Characters.  
Now considering, it appears from Bishop Walton, that nothing is more exposed to mutation than Languages, which are in perpetual 
Bish. Walt▪ Intr. ad liu. Orient. pag. 12.  floating, as all the commonly known languages of the East clearly demonstrate; and that the life of language dependeth upon Letters and Inscriptions: for not any thing can more assure us of the alteration and change of the Hetrurian and Latin Tongues, and that they differ at this day, from what they were in times of old, then their ancient Epigraphs, as is thus delivered by him, Quantum Hetrusca & Latina hodierna ab 
Id. pag. 13.  antiqua recesserunt, ex inscriptionibus & tabulis Eugubinis Hetruscis literis antiquis exaratis, & ex columnis rostratis, quas nemo adhuc explicavit, cuivis constat. Therefore in regard written records are such certain evidence, it is my intention in this scrutiny to appeal for the uncorruptedness of the language of China to their Characters, which have remained in writing on record, throughout all times since their beginning to be a people; and not oblige you to rely wholly upon their speech, whatever nevertheless hath or shall be said, to make good, that it continues the same at this day, as primitively it was.  
And since we are to carry on our Essay in an Historical manner only, we think it improper to launch forth into any other kind of proofs whatsoever, though (by the way) you are to understand, that whatever arguments of worth are produced by any Authors for any language to prove the primativeness thereof, may probably much more agreed to this; of which we shall have occasion to say somewhat more hereafter. And if we should say, that the learned Author of the Philosophical Language lately published hath founded his Notions chief on the Principles of This, we should not happily say amiss; though for the form of his Character, he hath followed rather the Gothique or Runique of old.  
THAT the World and Letters are eternal, Pliny is of opinion. Now, if thereby he meant, that Letters are as ancient as the World, his meaning, perhaps, might not be far from Truth. But, that Language or speech, was, before the World had form; the Scripture warrants. For, we read; Dixit, & factum est, not factum est & dixit: God said before he created, not, created before he said. Which sheweth, saith Ainsworth, how God created things by his word; saying, 
Alnsw. in Gen. 1.  and it was; commanding, and it was created; Psal. 33. v. 6, 9 and 148. v. 5. So that if we are to understand the Text, Gen. 1. v. 3. according to the Letter as he doth; Speech was before either things, or creatures were made; and consequently is, of more divine Antiquity, than either the world or men.  
That the PRIMITIVE Language was not a studied or artificial speech, nor taught our First Parents by Art and by degrees as their Generations have been, but concreated with them, is certain. For, we read that God not sooner questioned Adam, then Adam answered him. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself. Gen. 3. v. 9, 10. Whereby we are assured, that as the Creation of man himself was admirably perfect; so his language was originally plain and meek; nothing of that being found in either, which necessity afterwards compelled the posterity of the Conspirators at Babel, for their greater reputation to style Art; because God having given them over to themselves, they had no other way left to compose and regulate their Actions, then what either their ingenuity or experience by enforced and premeditated means afforded them. And sing it is presumed that Adam by his creation knew whatever might be advantageous for mankind; I see no reason but we may conceive, that the first Characters, that were ever framed to language were of his invention; for, that they were found out in the very infancy of the world, is, saith 
Sir W. Ral▪ hist. par. 1. pag. 67.  Sir W. Raleigh questionless, and the World was never more an Infant, than in the days of Adam. He that gave names to all things, knew best how to invent Characters for all things, whereby in their proper natures, those names should be communicated and continued to his Offspring. In like manner, having letters there is no doubt to be made, but that they had books also; for some part of the books of Enoch, containing the course of the stars, their names and motions, is said to be found after the flood in Arabia Faelix, within the dominion of the Queen of Saba (saith Origen, as loco citato quoted by our Historian) of which Tertullian affirmeth, that he had seen and read some whole pages. And as little question there is to be made, but that the letters with which in stone and brick either Seth or Enoch, or both engraved the Secretiora of their inventions, were significative and hieroglyphical; such we may say, as were invented by Adam for the benefit of them and their posterity. For, though in several Authors we found they used Letters; yet that they or either of them first found them out appears not in any Author. Seeing then, they are only said to be the first that made use of them, whereby it is manifest they followed but a former precedent, the glory of the invention remains absolutely unto Adam, unless any man will go about to yield the honour thereof to Cain, or the first of his issue, before either Seth or Enoch was born. And though this may perhaps 
Dr. Brow. Pseud. Epi. l. 5. p, 223.  seem singular, Doctor Brown nevertheless much inclines thereto; for, having told us, that many conceive Hieroglyphics were the Primitive way of writing, and of greater Antiquity than Letters, and that thereby the Language consisting of things they spoke unto each other by common notions of Nature, he concludes saying, This indeed might Adam well have spoken, who understanding the nature of things, had the advantage of natural expressions.  
That afterwards likewise in succeeding times, as if they also took example from those ingravements, they began to writ the●…r learning in Ciphers, and Characters, and Letters bearing the form of Beasts, Birds, and other Creatures, Raleigh also maintaineth. And it was the best evasion for all those that suffered from the Confusion of Babel, saith Doctor Brown.  
With Sir Walter's opinion herein, that, that Purchas from Hiurnius the Chaldaean relates, 
Purch. Pilgrimage, lib. 1. p. 82.  seemeth fully to consent, saying, that the Phaenicians before the Israelites departed out of Egypt used Hieroglyphical Characters, which he thinketh they learned from Abraham; the same which Seth and Enoch (mark I pray) had before used. As also, that Moses received the first Alphabetary Letters in the Table of the Decalogue, and from the Hebrews the Phaenicians; who could not want sufficient time to learn and imitate them, for Moses flourished an hundred years before Cadmus wandered into Greece. Which Sir W. Raleigh from Eupolemus and Artabanus 
Sir W. Ral▪ Hist. par. 1. pag. 268.  confirms, telling us, that Moses found out Letters, and taught them to the jews, of whom the Phaenicians their neighbours received them, and the Greeks of the Phaenicians by Cadmus. In Eusebius likewise it appears, that Moses first taught 
Euseb. praeparat. Eva. lib. 18.  the use of Letters to the jews, and that the Phaenicians learned them from the jews; and the Grecians from the Phaenicians; Godwin attesteth. 
T. Godwin Ant. jud. lib. 6. c. 7.   
If then aswel before the flood, as long after it, significative Characters only were in use; for without all peradventure that famous Inscription at Persepolis in Persia consists of such Characters; and although it differs, its true from the received Hieroglyphical way, being composed of the form of Triangles several ways transverted only. Yet we cannot but allow, in regard the people in those early days framed the Characters to their Language correspondent to the fancy of their imaginations; but that they must be made according to the more or lesle ingenuity of the People that so framed them. And should it be objected that this Inscription seems so to exceed all Antiquity, that some suppose it may be written before the flood; it may be answered, that though the world then had but one Common language; nevertheless according to the divers humours, and capacities of the People, as hath been said, for they could not be all alike ingenious, the then Characters might not be general but doubtless different. For, the Language was of God, who is not given to mutability; the Characters were of men, that are wholly inclined to variety.  
And if until the days of Moses, Alphabetary Letters were not known, which by violence of Conquerors, mixture with foreign Nations, liberty of Commerce, long tract of time, desire of Novelty, and s●…veral other ways are aptly disposed to alteration and corruption. In vain do we search for the PRIMITIVE Language to remain with those Nations whose Languages consist in Alphabets. For it cannot in reason be imagined, that Letters could be brought at first into such a studied order, and methodical way; but accidentally as it were at random invented after a plain and simple manner, conformable to the speech; as all other Arts from small beginnings and ruder notions have grown to perfection in time and by degrees; many Ages and long experience being required to perfect any invention of whatever kind. And if those Inscriptions reported by Pomponius Mela, and Pliny to have been found at joppa, witnessing that 
Pom. Mela lib. l. cap. 11. Plin. lib. 5. cap. 13.  it was built before the flood; and that Cepheus or Ceheus reigned there, and on which were engraven the titles of him, and his brother Phin●…us, together with a memorial of the grounds and principles of their Religion, had been communicated to posterity in the proper Character, nothing could have more assured us hereof. For, our learned Selden used to profess, that for adjustation of time and action, he more valued one Antique Inscription, than an hundred arguments of the Schools. Wherhfore it is much to be lamented, that those worthy Gentlemen both of our own Nation and others, that at such hazard and charge have travailed into the remote parts of Asia, from whence all Antiquity is derived; have neglected to exemplify some at lest of those many Inscriptions, which remain frequently dispersed in that part of the World, and which are such, if what hath been related to me be true, as that they will very probably confute several Pretenders to this Title. But not intending to dispute of this;  
Certain it is, that there hath hardly been ever any People so barbarous, or Nation so uncivilized, which to manifest their Couceptions among themselves; have not had their Characters either in a significative or Alphabetary manner as the experience of times and places teach us. By the Alphabetary kind, as with us, and other nations, aswel in the East, as other parts of the World, the Vulgar come vulgarly to know whatever action is performed: But by the significative, those especially I mean, that involved mystically the whole conception of some certain matter, the Vulgar come to know nothing, but what vulgarly befitted them for to know.  
Thus, not to mention others. the Egyptians, Brachmanes, and Runians of old, made use of Hieroglyphics to keep their Arcana Theologiae & Imperii sealed up, as it were, in the breasts of their Priests and Ministers of State only, And thus the Chin is invented their first Characters, and form them from all things that are obvious to sight; as Beasts, Birds, Wor●…es, Fish, 
A. Kir. Changed iii. par. 6. p. 227.  Herbs, Branches of Trees, Ropes. Threads, Points, Circles, and the like; with this difference nevertheless, that whereas the Egyptians, and the rest invented their Hieroglyphics to conceal their Arcana from the people; the Chinois on the contrary framed their Characters to communicate their Concepta to the people. For, as the Characters of These were invented for declaring precisely the conceptiors of single words, and names only, no other mystery being included in them: So, the Hieroglyphics of Those did not express single words or names, but 
Id. p. 234.  involved enigmatically entire Ideal conceptions. Whereby the difference between t●…e Hieroglyphics of the Egyptians and Characters of the Chinois, is evident; and that they are not in omnibus aemuli, as Kircherus would persuade. But with what other differences are between them, or whither in any manner they may seem to correspond, we intent not now either to trouble you, or ourselves.  
THE Inventor of the first Characters of 
I Nieuh. l Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 105.  Chinned, was Fohius their first Emperor, who according to the time that is given to the beginning of his reign might be contemporary with Enos. For, as hath been said, Martinius and Vossius affirm, that the Historical computation 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 1. p. 22.  of the Chinois gins from that year wherein Fohius entered upon his government, which was in the two thousand eight hundred forty seventh year before the birth of CHRIST. Now that year before the birth of CHRIST answers to the five hundred fifty third year before the Deluge, and Enos died in the year of the World eleven hundred and forty, which preceded the flood five hundred and sixteen years, whereby Fohius might be contemporary with Enos thirty seven years, according to the Chinois historical account, and as by our vulgar Chronology is evident. The most accurate Chronography of 
Is. Voss. de Aetat. mun. p. 18,  the Chinois, by the calculation of Moses, precedes the deluge seven or eight Ages; saith Vossius.  
But I found Xircherus very much to descent herefrom. For, he saith, that the Chinois as from 
A. Kirc. Ch. iii. par. 6. pag. 225.  their Annals and Chronography may be collected, place the first invention of their Letters almost three hundred years after the Deluge, of which their first King, Fohius by name, was the first Institutor; as by the book of the succession of their Kings appears.  
Now, this variance ariseth, because Kircherus for his calculation useth not the same European, but a different Chronology from the rest. For whereas Trigautius, Martinius, Semedo, with Nieuhoff, deduce their computation from the vulgar Aera of CHRIST, by which according to the original Hebrew Text, the flood happened in the year of the World one thousand six hundred fifty six; Kircherus on the contrary takes his from the Aera asserted by Isaac Vossius, whereby according to the Seventy, the flood is made to hap in the year of the World two thousand two hundred fifty six; the difference being six hundred years. And by this computation indeed, we shall found, that the first Letters of the Chineis come to be invented by Fohius two hundred forty four years before the Confusion of Tongues; and consequently not much lesle than three hundred years after the Deluge, as Kircherus hath alleged, the precise time being two hundred eighty seven years. For Vossius to make good his Chronology affirms, that the dispersion at Babel succeeded at the birth of Phaleg, which, saith he, was five hundred thirty one years after the Flood: Quam factam esse 
Is. Vossius de Aetat. Mun. pag. 47.  diximus ante & post nativitatem Phalegi annis post diluvium 531. being his words.  
But although by this it more than manifestly appeareth, that China had letters, and was planted two hundred forty four years before the Babylonian Confusion, and that thereby the Chinois could not be obnoxious to the curse of Confounded Languages; nevertheless (except their Letters, as Semedo conceiveth, were born with them, and together with their Theology, taught them by Noah) that also they were a people, and consequently had a Language, long before they could have letters in use, reason must grant, and Vossius will not deny. For he informeth us, That his Serians, (our Chinois) in their Annals record, that in the more ancient 
Id. pag. 48.  times which both preceded, and immediately succeeded the universal Deluge, their Country was inhabited, though they will not for certain affirm the same, but willingly rather acknowledge their error therein. But if in them it be an error, then is Vossius himself most eminently guilty of the same error. For, he hath long since delivered his judgement, that by his calculation, the Chinique deluge corresponds exactly with the flood of Noah. But unless China were peopled, it could not, according to his own position be drowned. For, with great vehemency he disputes, that those Countries that were not inhabited, perished not in the Deluge. Hear him, Ut vero diluvii inundationem ultra orbis 
I Voss. de Aetat. Mun. pag. 54.  habitati terminos producamus, nulla jubet ratio, imo prorsus absurdum dicere, ubi nullae hominum caedes, illic etiam viguisse effectus poenae solis hominibus inflictae; But that we should draw, saith he, the Inundation of the Deluge without the limits of the habitable Earth, no reason enjoins, yea verily, it is absurd to say, that where men had no habitations, there also the effect of the punishment, inflicted on men only, should take place. So that his argument stands thus; That Country which was not peopled, was not drowned by the flood; But China he himself affirms was drowned by the flood; Therefore China according to his own affirmation was peopled before the flood. Either then the Chinois are not in an error for so recording, or Vossius is in an error for so affirming. But China without all peradventure was inhabited before the flood, and consequently drowned, and therefore both the Chinois and Vossius are in the right. And he himself hath furthermore and very lately acknowledged, That the Chronology of China, by the Mosaical account, precedes the flood seven or eight Ages.  
Mark nevertheless I pray, how learnedly in thus disputing of the Deluge, Vossius occultly pleads the very case of those plantations, that were settled before the Conspiracy at Babel, and how those that were absent thence could not be guilty of the Crime committed there▪ nor liable therefore to the punishment ensuing thereupon.  
Now although, which of these two computations, are, according to the letter of the Scripture most warrantable, I will nor presume to argue; yet nevertheless what our Mede and others have delivered concerning them, I am not to decline. We know, saith he, the first 
I Mede lib. ●…5. pag. 1094. 1095.  Ages of the Church followed the computation of the seventy altogether, though it were most wide of truth; and the chiefest Doctors the Church then had, through ignorance of the Hebrew, for a long time knew not, or believed not, there was any other computation .He also adds, that the great difference which is found between these Chronologies proceedeth chief, because the Seventy translating in Egypt, voluntarily and of set purpose, increased the years of the first generations, to make them reach the Antiquity of some stories of the Egyptians, and thereby exceeded the Hebrew computation, above thirteen hundred years. And Doctor Brown affirms, that the Hebrew is incontrovertibly the primitive and surest text to rely upon, and to preserve the same entire and uncorrupt 
Dr. Brown Pseu. Epid. lib. 6. pag. 238.  there hath been used the highest caution humanity could invent .Wherhfore no man shall persuade me, no man, I say, of how great Authority soever he be, to believe any thing that openly contradicts, what Moses hath delivered; which is the most certain rule of all histories, and unto which unless we consent, we cannot consent to truth. However, leaving every man to liberty of conscience herein; I shall, with my principal Authors also, proceed with the vulgar Aera, as I begunn's, in all reverence submitting to the written Word of God according to the Hebrew Text; not daring to vindicate the Antiquities of China, so highly, as with Vossius to say, Quamvis autem odiose dicium possit 
Is. Vos. de Aetat. Mun pag. 3.  videri, dicam nihilominus, non defuisse, qui fortius istas Antiquitates adseruerint, quam alii Mosem defenderint.  
It sufficeth us, allowing which computation you please, that China was inhabited before the Confusion of Tongues, that for several Ages before that Canfusion the Chinois had the use of Letters; to wit, ever since the time of Fohius, whither likewise you admit him to have reigned either before or after the flood; and that at this present day the self same letters abstracted only, are in use among them. For we must observe, that the Characters they now use were abbreviated, from those that Fohius with other of his Successors first composed to their speech, as by Kircherus, having elegantly enlarged upon that, that others have but hinted at, is manifestly evident,  
But before proceeding thereunto, seeing we are thus accidently fallen again upon their Chronology and Annals, I conceive it very pertinent, to let you know the surpassing care, and nor to be paralleled order, the Chinois have from all Antiquity observed in writing of them, jest our following discourse chief relating to their Language, should otherwise seem to receive an interruption thereby.  
Martinius then telleth us, it was of old, and as 
M. Mart. Sin, Hist. lib. 1. p. 20.  yet is used by this Nation, that the writing of the life and actions of the deceased Emperor, that it may be free from all deceit and flattery, is by his Successor committed to the charge of some of their most learned Philosophers, which trust is reputed of all others the greatest honour, and is by their chiefest men ambitiou●…ly desired. Whereby the Chinique History hath been ever so continued like itself, as that, though from time to time as the Ages succeeded, it be enlarged by several Pens, it seems nevertheless to be the work of one only Author. For, it is unlawful for any but the Historiographer Royal to intermmeddle therewith, and criminal also, for the Writer of the succeeding times, to altar the preceding History.  
In confirmation whereof, observe likewise the 
I Nieuh. l' Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 104.  report that Nieuhoff makes. The Emperors of China, saith he, have evermore laboured to have the Annals of their Empire written by the most learned of all their Philosophers, whom they choose and oblige to that end, which makes this people glory, that there is nothing that surpasseth the truth of their Histories, and particularly those which are written from the two thousand, two hundred, and seventh year before the birth of CHRIST, unto this present time. Whereby their exact care in their Chronology admirably appears; for, it falls out justly with the fortieth fourth year before the Confusion of Tongues, of which we had cause though upon a different occasion (when stating at what time their Empire become hereditary) formerly to take notice, and as directly answereth to the end of the reign of Xunus, who first ordained this order to be perpetually observed, and who upon the casting of of Chus, succeeded jaus, as is already said. And it confirmeth also, what Martinius asserteth, That 
M. Mart: Sin. hist. lib. 1. pag. 20.  there is hardly any Nation in the whole World to be found comparable to the Chinois for their certainty in Chronology. Quâ curâ non ullam facile nationem Sinis in Orbe reliquo parem invenias; being his words. And likewise, jest it were not sufficient for him once only to assert it, he affirms the same again, saying, Quâ in re mirabile Sinarum semper studium emicuit, wherein the 
Id. pag. 12.  wondered care of the Chinois hath evermore excelled. Which Vossius in like manner attesteth, frequently calling the same accuratissima Chronographia, certissima Chronologia, the most certain Chronology, the most exact Chronography.  
We well known, those are not wanting, that make Nimrod to have arrived at Shinaar in the year one hundred and one after the Flood, and the Confusion to have been at Phaleg's birth; but although it is not to be believed; as Vossius saith, 
Id. pag. 17.  that the building of the Tower, the Confusion of Tongues, and dispersion of the people should be made, before scarcely one Age after the Deluge 
Sir W. Rai. hist. par. 1. pag. 99  was expired; and though, as Sir W. Raleigh tells us, These men do all by miracle, and beget whole Nations without the help of Time ;nevertheless let it be as improbable, and the time as much abridged as it will, even by this computation also, the Classic History of the Chinois gins fourteen years before the Confusion of Tongues happened.  
It was in the year after the universal Inundation one hundred and one, at which time Phaleg was born. Gen. 11. v. 16. that the division of the Earth, if understood to be at the birth of Phaleg, was made by Noah among his grandchildren; & that done, that they then went from the Eastern parts unto the valley of Sennar; Archbishop Ʋsher is of opinion. Whereby it manifestly seems, that from their removal out of the East, 
Dr. Ʋsher Ann. pag. 3  until the curse of confounded Languages, what in regard of their transmigration, what of the prodigiousness of their work, a considerable space of time interlapsed, but what that interval might be, he silently pretermits.  
And therefore, if you consult the Aera, that some marginal notes upon our Bible, Goropius, Sir W. Raleigh, and the most learned Antiquaries follow, which gives one hundred thirty one years before Nimrod come to Shinaar; and then if according to Glycas, as cited by Raleigh, you 
Sir W. Ral. Histor. par. 1. pag. 100  add thereunto forty years more to be consumed about bringing the Tower to an height before the Confusion ensued thereupon, you will readily found, that the History which the Chinois esteem so authentic commenceth thirty years before the dispersion at Babel, following Archbishop Ushers account; and by this other Aera observed by Raleigh and the rest it will appear, that the same history takes beginning eighty four years before the Confusion of Tongues, the which in manner accordeth rightly also, with what Trigautius & Nieuhoff have delivered, that by their Annals it appears they have had the knowledge of one only God, above four thousand years; for we know that from the Flood to this present time three thousand nine hundred sixty two years have elapsed. Now Nieuhoff and Trigautius follow (I need not repeat it) the vulgar Chronology, and deduce their account from jaus, who began to reign four thousand twenty five years since, and whose memory liveth by these Annals (which from Xunus seem to be called Xuking) Initium 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 8. pag. 352.  ejus lihri est Yaus Imperator, that Book takes beginning at the life of Yaus, saith Martinius. From whence we may observe, that though this their History precedes the Flood, it come nevertheless to be 'written in the succession after it; which much more contributes to the manifesting of the verity of their Annals, and who this jaus might in all probability be. The certainty then of their Annals & Chronology being thus apparent, it remains only to inquire after their Language and Letters, and with what certainty they have been continued.  
Alvarez Semedo tells us, That the Language 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. pa. 1. cap 6.  which they use in China, is of so great Antiquity, that many believed it to have been one of the 72 at the Tower of Babel. Of which opinion myself also will perhaps be, when either any of his Society, or other in his behalf shall make evident, so many Languages to have been spoken upon the Confusion there. It is true, that as well many learned men, as Semedo, according to the number of names laid down in the tenth Chapter of Genesis, being seventy, have supposed that the PRIMITIVE Tongue was confounded into the like number of Languages. But this, saith Heylin, I take to be but a conceit. It being plain, that Canaan and his Sons, eleven in all, had but one Language 
Heyl. Cosm. pag. 8.  among them, which was the Hebrew, or Language of the land of Canaan. And as for jocian and his Sons, being thirteen in number, considering he was the younger brother of Phaleg, in whose time this Confusion happened, it is most probable, and avowed for a certain truth, that either noon of them were born, or if they were, yet were all of them too young to have had an hand in the design for the building of Babel; and consequently could not be within the curse of Confounded Languages. So here is a third part of the seventy to be taken of, as possibly might all the sons of Mizraim be, if it were worth the while to insist upon it. With this Willet, Purchas, Mede, and divers others agreed. Therefore 
A. William in Gen. 11. Pur. Pilgrimage, lib. 1. pag. 40. I Mede, lib. 1. pag. 368. M. Casaub. de 4 ling. pag. 5.  with them and Heylin, I take this but for a fancy, and till made otherwise appear, shall conceive, that the Language of the Empire of China, is of far higher Antiquity, and as ancient, as the World itself and Mankind.  
Some again are of opinion, that the PRIMITIVE Language was not divided at all into any more or lesle others, but that the Judgement which fell upon the Conspirators at Babel was nothing else, than that their minds, and their notions of things being consused, though they might speak the same words, as they did before, yet they could not understand one another. Others again, that it was a forgetfulness of the former speech, and being forgotten, they afterwards mattered or babbled forth confusedly, whatever come next unto their Tongues-end. From whence it is supposed the word to Babble, used by us for a senseless discourse, proceedeth. But whither a division, stupefaction, oblivion, or absolute extirpation, (for what is confounded is reduced to nothing) it befell those only that were There in the Region of Babylon, and were either advisedly or actually contributors to the building of the Tower. And therefore concerns not us, who were throughly warm in our goodly seats long before that Confusion happened, and being not guilty of that crime, could not be within that curse, nor subject to that Judgement whatever it was. But to proceed. 
N. Trig. de Christ Exp. apud Sin. lib 1. cap. 5   
In the Language of the Chinois the Element, Syllable, Word, are all one and the same; Idemque est apud eos Dictio, Syllaba, Elementum. Says Trigautius.  
Their Idiom is very succinct, insomuch that as in multitude of Letters they surpass all other 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 1. p. 11.  Nations of the World; so likewise in paucity of words they yield to all. For the number of their words scarcely exceeds sixteen hundred. All of them also end in vowels, some few excepted which terminate in M, or N, and they are all Monosyllables and Indeclinables, as well Nouns, as Verbs; and so accommodated to their use, that many times the Verb serveth for a 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. c. 6, 11.  Noun, and a Noun for a Verb, and an Adverb likewise, if need require; whereby there is not much pains required to put them together in Syntax: And for the same reason we are assured by Semedo also, that their Language is more easy to be learned, than the Latin, the Grammar only whereof taketh up all our younger years. Hear him, Con che si facilita per essere studiata più che la Latina la cui sola Grammatica si piglia gli anni dell'eta puerile. Now these being his words, it seemed very strange to me to found, that in the Essay towards the Philosophical Language, pag. 452, it is said, that upon the account of the great Aequivocableness Alvarez Semedo affirms the Chinique Tongue to be more difficult, than any other Language of the World, quoting Histor. China Par. 2. Cap. 2. But, the truth is, the Author is too learned to commit such an error himself, and therefore deserved a more careful Transcriber; for those words are neither in the place quoted, nor in any part of Semedo's whole relation. Who, on the contrary, will likewise ere we conclude, not from casual hearsay, but his own long experience, receiving what he writ, not from the ears of others but his own ●…ys, attest, that upon the very self same account pretended it surpasseth for sweetness all other Languages at this day known.  
It depends not, moreover, upon Letters disposed into an Alphabetical form like ours, nor have they in their Language any words compounded 
A▪ Kirc. ●…h. iii. par. 6. pag. 226  of Letters and Syllables; but every single Character importeth a single word or name, whereby they had need of as many Characters, as there are things, by which they would deliver the conceptions of their minds. For example, if any should go about to tender Calepine into their Idiom, so many and different Characters he aught to have, as there are different words therein. Neither do they use Declensions or Conjunctions, sing all these are involved in the Characters themselves. So that it behoveth that man to be endued with a good memory, that intendeth to attain, but even unto an indifferent perfection in the Chinique Learning. Insomuch that he that by long study, throughout in manner his whole life time, arriveth to the highest perfection therein, as also among us whilst living we still learn, obtaineth deservedly the prime honours and dignities of the Empire. And as they are more or lesle learned, so are they lesle or more esteemed. From 
G. Mend. Hist. de la Chin. lib. 〈◊〉 pag. 140.  whence it proceeds, as Mendoza affirms, that noon how miserably poor soever they be, but learn at lest to read and writ, it being infamous among them to be illiterate.  
It may nevertheless not undeservedly seem admirable unto any man, saith Kircherus, why so many, and such Characters, which in their Onomasticon, called Haipien, to wit, the Ocean are numbered at sixty thousand, should be involved as we said in so few words, which that it may be manifest we are to know, that the words of the Chinique Language, as we lately showed, hardly exceed sixteen hundred. We may with Semedo distinguish them. Their Language hath not in all, saith he, more than three hundred and twenty vocaboli [words, I suppose unaccented and unasperated] and of parole [words which though really the same, differ in the aspiration and accent only] one thousand two hundred twenty eight. But as every of these words hath many and divers significations, so, unless by the different accents they are not to be understood. For, one word signifies sometimes ten, & sometimes twenty several things, intelligible only by the different pronunciation of the 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 6. pag. 235, 236.  Accent. Whereby in regard of the double sense, their Language to strangers is very difficult, and not without great labour, intentive stady, and with a thousand reflections to be learned by them. So that, it is one thing to know the Chiniqùe Characters, another, to speak the Chinique Tongue. For any stranger that hath a good memory, and diligent care withal, may attain to the height of Learning by reading of the Books of China, although he can neither speak the Language, nor understand what the Natives speak to him. From whence may be collected, that as the Frenchman writeth, not as he speaketh, so the Chinois speaketh not, as he writeth. And we know, that even at this day, in all generally, as well ancient, as modern Languages, there is between the reading and speaking a difference either more or lesle. However, as for that in China, 
N. Trig. de Ch. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 25.  Trigautius tells us, That all the difference between the speaking and writing consists in the connexion of the words only.  
But hereof Nieuboff will particularly inform 
I Nieub. l' Amb. Or: par. 2. pag. 12.  you, There is no Language, saith he, that hath so many words of a double sense as the Chinique; which is apprehensible by the different cadency of the voice. The incommodity received thereby is very great; for one cannot writ any thing, that is read to him in this Language, nor of himself understand a word, unless he have recourse to their Books, to know the double sense thereof by the Characters, whereby he may readily found it out; when in speaking, he cannot conceive what the Native meaneth. So that, one is not only obliged to have the words repeated, but likewise either with Ink to have them set down in writing, or if that be wanting, with water on the Table, or some other thing expressed. This double sense may in some measure he apprehended by five different cadencies or principal Tones, which are hard to be distinguished nevertheless, in regard of their sweetness: One word oftentimes receiveth (among strangers especially) five several meanings through this variety of Tones. And there is not one word also, which hath not one of them, and likewise twenty or thirty significations, according to the diversity of the Aspirations, which the Natives learn from their cradles, but is very difficult for a stranger to attain. And with the reason thereof Trigautius shall ere long acquaint you.  
jacobus Golius conceives the Language of China to have proceeded not so much from chance 
I Gol. Addit. de reg. Cathay●… pag. 7.  and necessity, as from meditation and Art But being it is destitute of all those troublesome aides that are brought in to the assistance of Art; for they have no Rules either for Grammar, Logic, or Rhetoric, but what are dictated to them by 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 〈◊〉 cap. 11.  the light of Nature; though greater Eloquence, than among them hath scarcely been ever read. Therefore being it is so nakedly free from those superfluous guides which we are constrained to search after in learning whatever other Language; we may well conceive, that it was at first infused or inspired, as the PRIMITIVE Language was into our first Parents, and so from them received, rather than otherwise invented and taught the Chinois. And whereas some fancy, that it is in many respects very imperfect, and exceeding equ●…vocal; yet in regard no Author of credit extant, hath given us so much as in general terms, any the lest notice of any such imperfections, I may say, that if any such imperfections shall be found therein, they relate in regard of the high Antiquity unto Artificialness only. For, without all peradventure it is a perfectly natural speech, and was a Language before the World knew, as to this particular at lest, what that, which we now call Art, meant. And as for the double sense of the words, those that have long lived in China, those that have diligently studied the same, and who are most concerned, and can best tell, shall given you full satisfaction in due place, that this aequivocableness makes it not only a sweet, but also a compendious, pleasant, and graceful Language, not naturally defective.  
But Golius himself shall presently attest it, verily, saith he, their Language in this is truly singular, and it is almost incredible, that all their words are not only Monosyllables, and guiltless of Grammatical differences, but also of such very great affinity between themselves; that, not otherwise, than by a most fine variety of pronunciation scarcely perceptible by other people, they are distinguished. And that throughout all Ages their speech hath been one and the self same; he formerly assured us.  
Now had he withal said, that their Characters were artificial, much Rhetoric needed not to have persuaded us into a belief thereof; in regard their first, confisting of Beasts, Birds, Plants, Fish, and the like, could not be made without some knowledge in Design. Whereby also this Art appears certainly to be, if not more, at lest as ancient, as Hieroglyphics. And as for those which they use at present, though it is true, that according as they are written, either in a set or running hand, they yield a deviation in figure: nevertheless they are grounded on the Mathematics; for, they be composed of perpendicular, rectangular, parallel, and circular lines, as we shall shortly prove, being now obliged thereunto.  
The Characters of the Chinois are twofold, An●…ient and more Ancient; or, the Originals and their Abstracts. The more Ancient are those first or premier Characters of theirs, which we found to be of such great Antiquity, what Chronology soever is followed; and which upon especial ocsions only, are now in use among them. And the Ancient are those, which from the other were abstracted, and bearing the very same signification in their speech, are throughout their whole Empire in general use at this day.  
Now the first or premier, which, because their abstracts are of above three thousand seven hundred years' continuance, we have for better distinction sake, called their more Ancient Characters, consisted of sixteen several kinds, taken from the various flyings, go, creepings, turn, wind, growings, increase, decreasing of volatile and reptile things, after the formerly mentioned significative manner. Kircherus thus sets them down.  
The first, from Serpents, and Dragons, and their various complicatures. 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 6. p. 228, etc.   
The second, from things belonging to Husbandry.  
The third, from the Wings of Birds, accordto the position of their Feathers.  
The fourth, from Shellfish and Worms.  
The fifth, from the Roots of Herbs.  
The sixth, from the Prints of the feet of Birds.  
The seventh, from Tortoises.  
The eighth, from the Bodies of Birds.  
The ninth, from Herbs and Water-flaggs.  
The tenth, from— But they seem to be derived from Ropes or Threads.  
The eleventh, from Stars.  
The twelfth, from— But it is a Character wherein of old their Edicts, Charters, and Letters Patents were written.  
The thirteenth, from—  
The fourteenth, from— But the Characters express Rest, Joy, Knowledge, Ratiocination, Light, Darkness.  
The fifteenth, from Fish.  
The sixteenth, and last from—— But it seems our Author finding, that his Society know not as yet, how to read this kind of them, thinks it needless we should know, from whence Antiquity composed the same.  
Of These (besides what others of their Philosophers invented) each of their first six or seven Emperors found out one, Fohius the first sort, 
M. Mart. Sin, Hist. lib. 1. p. 22.  Idem Imperator Sinicos Characteres reperit, quos loco nodorum adhibuit, sed ipsis nodis intricatiores; The same Emperor accidentily devised the Chinique Characters, which he used in the place of Knots, but more intricate, than the Knots themselves. Kircherus, as was said, not unaptly, in regard of their involving, tells us, he took them from Serpents and Dragons; as jaus, the seventh sort from Tortoises, and their several postures: Septima 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 6. p. 230.  characterum forma ex testitudinibus constructa, signatur literis HIKLM, quos invenit Yao Rex; the seventh form of Characters framed from Tortoises, which King Yaus invented, is signed with the Letters HIKLM. Which are his countermarks to demonstrate how exactly they correspond, with those they now use. In every one of these Characters six things were to be considered, the Figure, Sound, Use, Signification, Composition and Explication.  
Now, it cannot but be here observed, Martinius saith, that their Emperor Fohius introduced his invention of their Characters in the place of Knots; whereby it may be collected, that as the Americans afterwards, in their Histories, by Quippoes', and the Laplanders and Samoeds at this day, in their Exorcisms, by Knots; so the Chinois more anciently expressed the conceptions of their minds by the like way. And to this purpose I found, in our Author, that not much before Fohius his days one Suius governeed 
M. Mart: Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 19  China, and that he, instead of Characters and Letters, first found out knots of Ropes, for easing of the memory, and taught them the right way of using them in Schools.  
Furthermore, it appears by Martinius, that they have a certain sort of Characters in use at this 
Id. pag. 17.  day, which were invented long before the reign of Fohius. For, Thienhoangus, who was their next governor after Puoncuus, and, who first civilised, and brought them into order, invented that double sort of Letters, from which by joining them together, the Chinois afterwards, about the year before CHRIST according to the vulgar computation two thousand six hundrrd and seventy, framed their Cycle of sixty years. The first sort consists of ten Letters, which they call Can; the second contains the twelve hours of the day, which not by numbers, but particular Characters they express and signify. From the connexion of these same characters, they suppose to know, not only the name and quality of the year, but also of the whole year, and every day thereof, the secret motions of the Heavens, and their influences upon terrestrial bodies and natural things.  
Posteriores vero Sinae rerum experientia doctiores, 
A. Kirc. Ch. iii. par. 6. pag. 226.  cum magnam in tanta Animalium Plantarumque congery confusionem viderent, characteres hujusmodi varie figuratos, certis punctorum linearumque ductibus aemulati, in breviorem methodum concinnarûnt, quá & in hunc usque diem utuntur; But the succeeding Chinois, saith Kircherus, more learned by experience, when they seen the great confusion proceeding from such a mass of Animals and Plants, reform those characters so variously figured, and in imitation of them, by substracting certain points and lines from them, reduced them into a more compendious method, which even unto this very day they use. Now, that the Characters which even unto this very day they use, how many Ages soever their first Characters were invented before, have been above three thousand seven hundred years used by them, will very suddenly from warrantable Authority be made good.  
Of these Characters the number is so great, as that it is scarcely known. Martinius and Semedo compute them at sixty thousand; Trigautius at seventy or eighty thousand; Kircherus saith eighty thousand, and Nieuhoff from Mandeslaus in his History of Persia, finds them to be more than an hundred and twenty thousand. 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 6 N. Trig. de Exp. Christ apud Sin. lib. 1. cap. 5.  Of which nevertheless eight or ten thousand are sufficient to learn their Idiom▪ that a man may tolerably converse, and know how to writ the Characters, and perhaps throughout their whole Empire, there is not any man, saith Trigautius, that knows them all. And when they meet with any that they call a cold Letter, they have recourse to their Vocabulary, as we to ours for any Latin word we understand not; which evidently declares, that he among them, that knows the most Letters is most learned, as with us, he is the best Latinist, that is best acquainted with his Dictionary, or he the greatest Scholast that hath read or studied most. The first of their Characters signifies God (their Xangti happily may be intended) as the Character 
G. Merc. Atl. in Ch. pa. 670.  of the Cross gives beginning to our Alphabet, saith Mercator, in his Atlas.  
Now to form all this multitude▪ of Letters, they use nine strokes or touches with the pen only; yet so disposed nevertheless, that by adding, diminishing, or turning of a stroke, they make other new and different ones, and of different significations. For example, the strength line marked A, signifies One; being crossed with another line, as at B, it expresseth Ten; made with another at the bottom, as at C, it denotes the Earth; and with another at the top, as at D, it standeth for a King; by adding a touch on the left side between the two first strokes, as at E, it is taken for a Pearl; but that which is marked with F, signifies Creation or Life; and lastly by the character under G, is intended Sir.  
That their Characters, for Contracts, Policies, Plead, and such like transactions between party and party, are written with a running hand, answering to that which our public Notaries use; and that for their Manuscripts and printed Books another more set form is observed; as also that some of them are more difficult, and require more study to be understood, 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 6.  than others, I need not mention; the Characters essentially being still the same. But must not omit the great Antiquity they carry; Le Lettere che usano, par chesiano cosi antiche, come le gente medesima, perchè conforme alle loro memori●… Historiche; le riconoscono da più tre mila set cento anni, insino a questo del 1640, nel quale scriviamo questa relatione; The Letters which they use, saith Semedo, seem to be as ancient, as the People themselves, for perfect notice of them may be taken from their Historical Records, for above three thousand seven hundred years, accounting to the present 1640, in which this our Relation, saith he, was written. Now, as from him is not to be collected; how many more, than three thousand seven hundred years, his words da più may imply, so in regard they relate not to their first or premier Characters, but those particularly which they now use, and to the time chief when they come to be reform, we have no need to insist upon them. Though the formerly mentioned plusquam of Vossius, purposely inserted that it may be observed to this end, comprehends no lesle, than five hundred years. Wherhfore following his assignation precisely, I say, it is plainly manifest thereby, that not only the reducing of their premier Characters to a more compendious method, than formerly they were, happened two hundred thirty four years after the flood; but also that ever since that their reducement, their Letters have continued without any alteration, and are the self same at this instant time, as when primarily they were reduced. In like manner Kircherus throughout the sixth part of his China Illustrata most certainly demonstrates, that every particular Letter of them, bears at this very time the self same signification in their Language as the peculiar premier Character, from which it was abstracted, anciently did. And both Martinius and Nieuhoff very late Writers, & by so much the more unquestionable, have long since declared, that their premier Characters were invented almost three thousand years before the birth of CHRIST. And indeed, that the Invention of them long preceded their Reformation, not any man can possibly doubt, considering especially, setting what hath formerly been said aside, that being they were devised by several persons, succeeding one another in several Ages, they must of necessity take up many years of time; before likewise their posterity could gain so much experience, as to perceive the great disorder atterding such a mass of Animals and Plants, divers years also must necessarily elapse, and at last the bringing of them, being so numerous, into their present form, in regard of the frequent consultations, mature deliberations, and manifold transcriptions, could not in like manner be performed at an instant. Therefore, without all peradventure, their first Letters must be much more ancient by far than those which they now use; as Nieuhoff and Martinius have asserted. But if you incline rather unto Kircherus, and the computation which he follows, then it appears thereby, that their Premier Characters were first found out, not lesle than two hundred forty four years before the Confusion of Tongues, but at what time, or in what Age their Emendation succeeded, is not to be gathered, either from him or Vossius.  
The Chinois given willingly great sums of money for a Copy of their ancient Characters well form, and they value a good writing of their now Letters far more than a good painting, whereby from being thus esteemed, they come to be reverenced. Insomuch that they cannot endure to see a written paper lying on the ground, but finding it immediately take it up, & carry the same to the Child's Schools, where in an appointed place for keeping the like papers, they remain, till afterwards at certain times they burn them, not out of Religion as the Turks, but only out of the love they bear to Letters.  
From Semedo we have somewhat more to say, 
A. Sem. Rel. de. la in. par. 10 cap. 6.  [Il Linguaggio] è vario, perchè sono varii li Regni, delli quali hoggi si compone questa Corona, & anticament non eransuoi, mà p●…sseduti da Barbari, come tutte le provincy Australi, & alcune Settentrionali; The Language is different, saith he, because the Kingdoms are different, of which at this day this Empire is composed, and anciently did not belong unto this Crown, but were possessed by Barbarous people, as all the Southern Provinces, and some of the Northern. By which it is evidently manifest, that in those Countries which did anciently belong unto this Crown, the speech doth not differ but remains pure and uncorrupted.  
And hence it is that Martinius throughout his Atlas of China, when giving us the Chorographical descriptions of their ancient Imperial Countries, delivers not so much as one only word of any whatever difference they have in speech. Whereas when describing those other of Northern Provinces together with the Southern, that not until these later Ages of the World were wholly reduced to obedience of the Empire, and brought into civil order; he not only acquaints us with their various Language, but also in what manner, and by what ●…cans they come to vary therein. For, being as he frequently calls them, rude and uncultivated men, Mountaineers and fierce people, and having been at first but few, and no care taken of them, till the main Colonies were peopled, could not afterwards when their numbers were multiplied be readily brought to submit to the Supreme Sovereignty; but for many generations through the disloyalty of their Governors stood out, and opposed the same, as hath been already said.  
Now, the Provinces which from all Antiquity 
M. Mart. ●…in. hist. lib. 1. p. 26.  have belonged to the Imperial Crown of China, are generally those that lie on the North of the Kiang, where their first Plantations were settled. For Martinius informs us, that the old limits of their Empire extended unto that Sea, which we may term the Eoan. But that as then it was so called, we are not to conceive. On the North Tartary Antiqua, on the South that great River, which they call the Son of the Sea, bounded it. This River commonly called Kiang▪ running from West to East, divides the whole Empire as now it is, into North and South China, being the sometimes boundary thereof. He further tells us, that it was 
〈◊〉. Atl S●…n. ●…g. 3.  of old divided into twelve Provinces by the Emperor Xunus. Than into nine by his Successor Yuus, before the birth of CHRIST above two thousand, two hundred years; for at that time it contained the Northern parts only▪ from almost the fortieth degree of Latitude to the thirtieth, where the great River Kiang gave bound unto the Provinces. Afterwards by little and little the Southern parts were brought under subjection, and from barbarity reduced to the Chinique policy. Than at last was the whole Empire of China divided into fifteen mighty Provinces.  
Whereby it manifestly appears, that their Language continues in its ancient purity at this day, not in a nook or corner, as the old Spanish in Biscay; nor in the hilly or mountainous parts of the Country, as the Arabic in Granata; or as the ancient Epirotique in Epirus; but throughout all their first Plantations, and Countries which did anciently belong unto the Crown, which Martinius hath told us, extend from almost the fortieth degree of Latitude to the thirtieth, where the great River Kiang boundeth them.  
But, observe the opinion of M. Casaubon concerning 
M. Casaub. de 4 ling. pag. 8.  the difference of their Language. I confess, saith he, that in some sort there may be a diversity in the speech of the Provinces of China: not any man nevertheless can possibly think, that this diversity could hap, until there were several Provinces, but much more rather, that the diversity proceeded from the difference of the Regions, and the Governments of them. Which is not to be denied; for, we cannot suppose, but that their speech might come to be different, either according to the temperature of the Air, or as the situation of the Province was more or lesle mountainous, which naturally causeth greater or lesser rudeness in the pronunciation of a Language; or else according to the care in Government, as they were lesle or more trained up in civility, and kept within due order; which accordingly preserveth Language in its purity and perfection. In like manner the conduct of the Plantations, might be of great concernment therein, as when either the new Planters arose from the first swarm, or were of a second or third castling from other places; whilst the head Colony, as may be said, or main body of the Monarchy retained and enjoyed purely their genuine or natural speech. Wherhfore admitting; that in those Northern and Southern Regions the Language doth differ, as much perhaps as our Southern, Western, and Northern- English, for it will scarcely appear to differ much more, yet it is still one and the same speech. Do we not grant, that the Greek was one Language, though there were five several Dialects thereof? And the Language of the Ephraimites, Hebrew, or Canaanitish, though they could not pronounce Shibboleths? Otherwise he that lispeth or stammereth, which is a defect in Nature, not corruption of speech, may be said to have lost his MOTHER Tongue. But let the Vulgar Idiom of the Chinois be as different as it will, they have not any one Book written therein, not more than we in our Northern or Western Dialects, but all their Books are written in their tr●…e ORIGINAL 
N. Trig. in Chr. Exp. ●…pud Sin. lib. 1. pag. ●…5. 〈◊〉. Mend. 〈◊〉 saint d●…lla 〈◊〉. lib. 3. 〈◊〉 ●…39.  Language, and the Characters of them are, and ever have been one and the same throughout their whole Empire.  
Mendoza makes mention of this difference also, and therewith somewhat acquaints us wherein it doth consist. He telleth us then, that it is admirably strange, that though in the Dominions of this Empire, they have several kinds of speech, nevertheless all generally understand it by the Letters, not Words. But the reason is, saith he, because one and the same figure, and one and the same Character, is common to all in the signification of one and the same thing, although it be diversely named in the speech; as for example, the Character for a City is universally known throughout their Empire, though in some places they call it Leombi, and in others Fù, the like happening in all other nouns. Now, this proceeds not only in regard their Language is aequivocal through the divers significations of the Letter according to the Accent; but also because they have peculiar words for particular things according to the respective dignity and quality that the thing spoken of, carries in their speech; as Semedo, Nieuhoff, and Kircherus have told us, and as from Martinius you will very suddenly hear. And therefore Mendoza aught to have declared what kind of City the Chinois intent by Leombi; for, what manner they mean by Fù will appear ere long. And of all of them the words are perfect Chinois, and after the purity of their Idiom pronounced accordingly. As in like manner with us, though in the North of England they call that a Dove-cote, which in the South is called a Pigeon-house, the names nevertheless are good English; So also Ensis is as true Latin for a Sword as Gladius; and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as pure Greek for Urbanitas as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. But to our purpose Cheu is as uncorrupted Chinique for a City as Fù, and Hien as either; the diversity of Terms proceeding from the different dignities 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 108.  they bear. For, thus saith Martinius, The Chinois call not the greater Cities Fù, but Cheu, and those lesser ones which are under their jurisdiction Hien. They call a Royal City also Kingsu▪ for as the same Author hath it, it is to be observed, that Kingsu is the common name of dignity for their Regal Cities, but not for any one properly and singularly so called. But to what degree of Cities Leombi answers, I cannot found, unless happily it might be mistaken for Ni●…po, a Port Town, which the Portugals as Martinius informs me, are want by 
●…d. p. 118.  somewhat a corrupt name to call Liampo.  
Whereby it is observable that by one only word they express that, which we are enforced to signify by divers. As thus also, for to say among us Europaeans the manner of taking 
A Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 6.  any thing, either with the whole hand, or with some particular fingers thereof, we are always obliged to repeat the Verb Take, among the Chinois it is not so, for each word signifies the verb, and the manner likewise. For example, Nien, to take with two fingers: Tzo, to take with all the fingers: Chuà, with the whole hand turn downwards: Toy, with the hand open turned upwards▪ So also with the verb, Is, whereas we say, He is in the house; He is eating; or He is sleeping: They have a word, wherewith at once they express, both that He is and the manner how He is. We to say the foot of a Man, the foot of a Bird, or the foot of any Beast▪ are always necessitated to specify it with the same word foot; but the Chinois do it with one single word; as Kiò, the foot of a Man: Chuá, the foot of a Bird: Thy, the foot of any Beast whatsoever.  
The Natives of China speak generally as from their Infancy they are taught, without observing any Accents at all; whereby in divers places the People, like our country Peasants, as they afterwards attain to a more or lesle habit of civility and learning speak finer, or broader, and with a fuller mouth than others. For, it may be collected from Martinius, that he among 
M. Mart. Sin. Hist. lib. 〈◊〉. pag. 276.  the Chinois that is not well read in the Language, and understands not the Characters rightly, ore loquentém rustico, speaking in a rustical manner, delivers his mind harshly; whereas he that is learned in them pronounceth his words with a grace genuinely. To These the Language is familiar; from Those not so welcome or commendable.  
Thus in the Province of Chekiang, that which the Literati after the elegant manner of the 
Id. Atl. Sin. pag. 110.  speech incorruptedly call Kingsu, the vulgar sort of people speaking after the common way lesle exactly, call Kingsai; from whence in P. Venetus the name Quinsai springeth. So likewise in Fokien where they speak clownishly they usually change N, into L, as Lankin for Nankin, and the like. For thus Martinius also, in his description 
Id. pag. 9●…  of Nankin. The Portugals, saith he, vulgarly call it Lankin receiving the error from the Fokiens, with whom they chief trade; for these being very rude in speaking by a most common vice of their Country are want to change every N into L. After the same manner, as in the East of England they say a Chim-Ney, and in the West a ChimLey; or as with us in several parts of Somersetshire, S, is changed into Z; as Zuch for Such; and F, into V, as Father for Father and the like. Where also many of the People, the farther West especially, speak so confusedly in the mouth, that he, that is not acquainted with their Idiom, can hardly understand either what they mean or say; though nevertheless, that which they speak is English.  
Those people of Fokien are the only they almost of all the Chinois, that adventure to go to sea and trade; and that non obstante the Laws of the Empire maintain free Commerce and Intercourse with foreign Nations; whereby they use not all, saith Martinius, one and the same 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 121.  speech, but in several Cities it differs, insomuch that hardly and with difficulty one understands another, the polite elocution of the Literati common to all the other Provinces, being lesle known and used here, than in any place else. But in jenping and the territories belonging to it (for every Province hath several, as great as 
Id. p. 128.  some of our European Kingdoms) which was planted by a Colony from Nanking, the Inhabitants speak as the Literati, which in regard they live among such rustics is accounted singular in them. Now, Semedo in celebrating 
A Sem. Rel de la Cin. p. 〈◊〉. cap. 6.  the Chinique speech will assure you, that at Nanking it is spoken purely. His words being, H●…o più del soave che dell'aspro, e se si parla perfettament, come d'ordinario si ode in Nankin, lusinga ludito; Their Language, saith he, is more sweet than harsh, and if it be spoken perfectly, as it is ordinarily at Nankin, it flattereth the attention of the Auditors, or is very delightful to the Ear. As our English Translation hath it.  
By all which it appears, that from the different appellations given to one and the same Character, and the divers pronunciation of their Characters in divers places, though the words are the very same, the diversity of their Language proceedeth. Therefore to make an end of this difference at once for all; The natural roughness of the Regions, attended by the ambitious proceed of the Royaltes, in those Provinces where they domineered, causing a rough nature in the inhabitants made them live like Barbarians, and speak accordingly; whilst the pure Language of their Ancestors lay neglected, and their morality trampled in the dirt. But what through their beginning to be reduced to the Imperial Diadem by Chingus first, and afterwards by Hiavows about an hundred and forty years before the birth of CHRIST; what through their final reducement and union to the Crown, by the victorious Humuù, as was said, their ancient Language hath taken root again, & spreads itself throughout all those united Provinces, though each of them nevertheless still retains their so rudely engrafted speech, as b●…ing by long time become habitual and natural to them, and not in possibility on the sudden to be easily either refined or reformed. So that with Semedo we may confidently say, it is so far from being lost, that though the Language in those Provinces by their revolts become different, it returns again by their Union into one only throughout the whole Chinique Empire. Però la lingua della Cina venne essere 
〈◊〉. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 6.  una sola, che chiamino Quonhoa, ô lingua di Mandarini; perche essi con l'iste esso passo col quale inducevano il lor governo in altri Regni, introduoevano anche la lingua: e cosi hoggi corre per tutto il paese, come il Latino per tutta l'Europa; anzi più universalment, conservando anche ciascuno la sua natural favella; Therefore, saith he, the Language of China comes to be one only, which they call Quonhoa, or Language of the Mandarins; for with the same pace as they introduced their Government into those other Kingdoms, they brought in their Language also; and so it runs throughout the whole Country at this day, as the Latin throughout all Europe, but more universally, every one likewise keeping their natural, or clownish manner of speech, as Nieuhoff calls it, by which the Inhabitants of 
I Nieuh. l Amb. Or. par. 2. pag. 13.  one place scarcely understand one another, as was instanced in the Province of Fokien, unless they have recourse to their Books and Characters which are all one and the same, whereby they readily comprehend the sense and meaning of him that speaketh. Hence it is, that we Europaeans endeavour wholly to perfect ourselves in 
N. Trig. de Ch. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 28.  the Language of the Literati, because it is more easy and more gen●…ral; for thereby saith Trigautius, Strangers may converse with the Natives in any Province. Hence it is, that the style they writ, is far different from that they speak; 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 6.  although, saith Semedo, (and mark him, I pray) the words are the same, so that when one goeth about to writ, he had need to recollect his wits, for he that will writ according as commonly they speak, may worthily be laughed at. Hence it 
G. Mend. hist. della Chi. lib. 1. p. 159.  is, that Mendoza telleth us, the Language of the Chinois, is, as the Hebrew, better understood by writing then speaking, the Characters being distinguished by points, which serve not so commodiously for speech. And hence it is, that Trigautius, 
N. Trig. de Ch. E●…p. apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 37.  giving us another reason for it, saith, I do verily believed, that the cause thereof is, for that from all memory of Ages, this people have endeavoured to writ elegantly rather than so to speak, insomuch that all their Eloquence even to these our days consists not in pronunciation but writing only. Hic porro scribendi modus, quo singulis rebus singulos appingimus characteres, etsi memoriae sit permolestus, tamen adfert secum insignem quandam nostrisque inauditam commoditatem, etc. But all though this way of writing, whereby we are, saith he, to set down a particular character for every thing, be extremely troublesome to the memory, yet it brings with it a certain famous and incredible advantage to us, in regard of the universality of the Letter. Which incredible advantage, that as well the whole World. as we Europaeans may enjoy, our learned Dr. john Wilkins by the proposal of a Real Character hath made a fair overture lately, and if others would as willingly contribute their studies, as he hath ingeniously begun▪ for no human invention, but Divine creation can make any thing perfect on the sudden; we might not longer complain of the unhappy consequences that succeeded the Confusion at Babel, nor China glory that she alone shall evermore triumph in the full fruition of those abundant felicities that attended mankind, whilst one common Language was spoken throughout the World.  
Now, though it is not to be denied but that Language precedes Letters, for we speak before we can either read or writ, nevertheless it must be granted withal, that we could neither writ nor read, unless Characters had been framed to Language. And Characters were at first framed to Language, not only that by them, the actions of the respective people might be commemorated, but also that by such commemoration the Language itself should be preserved to Posterity. Therefore the certainty of Language consists not so much in the speaking and pronouning, as in the reading and writing: not in the words but Letters. For thus, he that is well read in the Oriental tongues, we declare to be a great Linguist, as being learned in the speech of the Eastern Nations. By which it manifestly appears, as Bishop Walton formerly asserted, that by Inscriptions the truth of Language is discovered. Now Nieuhoff, Vossius, and others have assured us, that the Chinois can and will in maintenance of the truth of There's produce faithful witnesses, Ancient Records written from Age to Age in not Alphabetary, but significative Characters, such, as the World in the Infancy and Nonage thereof had in use, & such as Martinius, Semedo, & our Chinique authors have generally affirmed, are the same at this very day, as when primitively they were invented: which eminently convinceth that their Language remains as pure and uncorrupt at this present in those Characters, as when they first began to have a Language.  
But the Reverend Bishop proceeds farther, and positively, as formerly cited, concludes, saying, Idcircò linguae omnes, quas libri scripti a communi clade non servant, vicissitudini, ut omnia humana, semper obnoxiae sunt, & singulis soeculis insignem mutationem subeunt; Wherhfore all Languages that written books have not preserved from common ruin, are, as all human things, ever obnoxious to change, and in every Age undergo a notable mutation. Whereby it is more manifestly evident (And to this end especially he thus delivered his judgement) that such Languages which have been preserved in written books are not subject to change. And therefore, finding from those Authors that living many years in China, have 
N. Trig. de Christ. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. pag. 3 M. Mart. Sin, Hist. in Epist. ad Lector.  not only been eye witnesses, but also day and night most studious in their Antiquities (Martinius professing that for ten years together, except for his set prayers, he never took any book in hand but There's) finding I say from such unquestionable Authorities; That the Chinois have been a people ever since the flood of Noah, and before the Confusion of Tongues; That their Language hath continually in all times, from their firstbeginning to be a Nation, been preserved in written books; That the Characters wherewith those books be written, are the self same, which from all Antiquity were extracted from their Original Hieroglyphics: That in those Characters their Language hath ever since consisted, and according to them, is at this present day spoken purely: And That by the some Characters their Language is generally and universally understood throughout the whole Chinique World, We may safely conclude that the MOTHER or NATURAL Language of the Empire of China, perdures in its Ancient purity without any change or alteration.  
And I must not omit, that several books yet live among them, written in their first and original Hieroglyphics, which still remaining in their Libraries, are understood by all their 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 6. p. 228, A. Sem. Rel de la Cin. par. 1. c, 6. M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 16.  Literati, though they are not longer used, except in some Inscriptions, and Seals instead of Coats of Arms. Among these sort of Books is extant one called Yeking of great Antiquity, as taking beginning with Fohius, and of as great esteem for the Arcana it contains. This Book seems much to confirm the opinion of those, that would have the Inscription at Persetolis more ancient than the flood. For, as This in Persia consists only in Triangles several ways transversed: So That in China consists only of strength lines several ways interrupted. It treats especially of Judicial Astrology, Politic Government, and occult Philosophy.  
But some may perhaps say, that with the change of their Ancient Theology, the Chinois might change their Language also. But this Argument is of no validity at all; for, it may as well be said, that the Israelites because they set up the Golden Calf in the Wilderness, lost their natural Tongue; or at lest when under jeroboam, ten whole Tribes making a defection followed the like Idolatry. But to come nearer home, every man knows, that ourselves changed our Religion in the time of Edward the sixth; yet not any man knows, that thereby▪ our speech received an alteration. Besides the Chinois did not so totally fall from their Ancient Theology, but that (as hath been said) they have Xangti, their being infected with Idolatry notwithstanding, 
N. Trig. de Christ. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p, 105  in as great veneration at this day, as ab antiquo; also their Literati not only not worship, but likewise have no Idols, still adoring one only Deity, by whom they believed all things here below are governed and preserved; and they use the same Language now, as when they first were taught to adore one God only, which according both to Trigautius and Nieuhoff is above four thousand years since.  
NOW, in regard that those who have written of the PRIMITIVE Tongue, may be observed to recommend unto us six principal guides to be directed by, for the discovery thereof; viz. Antiquity, Simplicity, Generality▪ Modesty of expression, Utility, and Brevity, to which by some is added Consent of Authors also; We having already spoken sufficiently, as to the Antiquity, will consider in what degree the Language of the Chinois may correspond with the rest of these Remarks, and then submit ourselves to censure.  
First then as to Simplicity, our Chinique is a Language that consists (and it is singular therein) all of Monosyllables, not one Dissyllable, or Polysyllable being to be found in it; nor hath it any Vowels or Consonants, but a peculiar Hieroglyphical Character for what ever can be conceived, either in the mind, or may be obvious to the sense. And if in this our Essay you have met with some words of many syllables, note nevertheless that every syllable is a particular 
N. Trig. in Exp. Christ apud Sin. lib. 1. p. 26.  word, but because that divers syllables are taken to signify one only thing, those which we have had occasion to mention herein, are by us connexed after the manner of our speech in Europe. And although the Chinois have as many Characters as there are things, they know nevertheless so well how to join them together, that they exceed not above seventy or eighty thousand, as you have heard.  
Neither doth their Language consist, saith 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. in Epist. ad Lector.  Martinius, as ours, of any certain Method, or order of Alphabet, but every thing hath a figure, by which it may be differently expressed from others, composed by no Art or Rule, and as it were by chance attributed to the subject-matter; and fitted, as I may add, to the Infancy and Simplicity of Time. Furthermore the Chinois are never put to that irksome vexation of searching out a Radix for the derivation of any of their words, as generally all other Nations are; but the Radix is the word, and the word the Radix, and the syllable the same also, as Trigautius hath long since affirmed; which persuades a facility in their speech not to be paralleled by any other Language, and that the true, genuine, and original sense of things seems to remain with them. Besides they are not troubled with variety of Declensions, Conjugations, Numbers, Genders, Moods, Tenses, and the like Grammatical niceties, but are absol●…tely free from all such perplexing accidents, having no other Rules in use, than what the light of Nature hath dictated unto them; whereby their Language is plain, easy, and simple, as a NATURAL speech aught to be. And it is worthy observation, that, whereas, in point of Theology, they of all other people have been lest guided by the light of Nature; in point of Language, they of all other people have been most, yea, only guided by the light of Nature. But it was Nature that from God taught them their Language, and it was the God of Nature, that by Noah taught them their Theology.  
Moreover, the Letters, then which nothing can be more certain, testify, that it is sine ulla vocum peregrinarum mixtura, without any mixture of foreign words. The Hebruitians would have us accept account of the Hebrew; and therefore well knowing how superstitiously our Divines for the most the same part are affected towards the Hebrew Tongue, and that they will not allow it to be the Language of Canaan, but the Original Speech; we leave them to inquire, whither the Language of the Chinois (whose twelfth sort of their first or Premier Characters, seem in no mean degree to correspond even with the now Hebrew Letters) may not be the really true, pure, and ancient Hebrew Tongue. Which they say was lost in the time of the Captivity, or as others rather before the entrance of the Israelites from Egypt into the land of Canaan. For, (let their Language be what you please) if it become utterly forgotten, in the seventy years their Captivity endured, much more questionless might it be corrupted in the some Centuries of years during their affliction in Egypt. When the Taskmasters that Pharaoh and his Council set over them were Egyptians, the Text being plain, that, They did set over them Taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens, Exod. I v. 11. and Exod. 5. v. 1●…▪ When to increase their afflictions the more, they lived dispersedly over all the land of Egypt, So, saith Moses, the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble in stead of straw. Exod. 5. v. 12. When that Text also, Speak now in the ears of the People, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour jewels of silver, and jewels of Gold, Exod. II v. 2. sheweth, that not only they lived promiscuously among the Egyptians; but likewise used the Egyptian Tongue, how else could their neighbours (Egyptians saith Aynsworth) understand what they desired to have, unless either they spoke the language of the Egyptians, or the Egyptians theirs, whatsoever it was? And when they went up from thence accompanied with a mixed multitude; And a mixed multitude went up also with them. Exod. 12. v. 38. Which were Egyptians and other Nations, saith Aynsworth, but the Chaldee Paraphrast many strangers, whose numbers Willet finds to be not fewer 
Ainsw. in Exo. 11. and 12. Willet in Exod. 12.  than five hundred thousand persons, that having either lived in Goshen with the Israelites, or drawing together with them from the several parts of Egypt accompanied them from thence, being moved by the works of God to go out of Egypt with them. And in regard these had so great an influence upon them, as in so short a time after, to corrupt their ways by making them to murmur against God, and lust after flesh, Numb. 11. It may not be improbable, but by their long and constant continuance among them, they might contribute much to the corruption of their Language in like manner; they being readily prove, as by their frequent Rebellions it appears, to entertain any thing, how pernicious soever to their succeeding generations.  
Cluverius as I found in M. Casauhon, useth it as 
M. Casauh. de 4 ling. pag. 33.  an argument in opposition to the Antiquity of the Hebrew Tongue, that almost a thousand words may be collected therein, which to most or many Languages at lest are common. But how many soever Cluverius hath collected those foreign words to be, I shall now remember one only, Ophir, from whence Solomon had his Gold, precious Stones, Ivory, and other Rarities; in regard especially Writers so much differ concerning it. Some taking the same for pure Gold itself; Others supposing it to be that Region of America, which is commonly called Peru, and of which there being two, the North and the South; they will have them to be jointly called Parvaim; and that gold, the gold of Parvaim: Others, Cep h ala or Sophila in Aethiopia▪ Others again an Island in the Read Sea; and Others Hispaniola. Now that which hath caused this diversity of opinions, and that the place hath hitherto been unknown is, the mistaking of Ophir to be Hebrew, when 
A. Kirc. Ch. iii. par. 2. pag. 58, 59  indeed it is an Aegyptique or Coptique word, and among the Egyptians of old was the name for India, and no other place whatsoever.  
But if this mixture of words may be brought in bar against the Hebrew, what judgement shall be given in behalf of that people, which have ever since the universalflood used a speech, that hath not any one word thereof common to other Languages; such Countries as have been subdued, or such Colonies perhaps as have been planted by them excepted? And if ever our Europ●…ans shall become throughly studied in the Chinique tongue, it will be found, that not only the Chinois want words to other Languages common, but also that they have very many whereby they express themselves in such Elegancies, as neither by Hebrew, or Greek, or any other Language how elegant soever can be expressed. Besides, whereas the Hebrew is harsh and rugged, the Chinique appears the most sweet and smooth Language, of all others throughout the whole World at this day known.  
And as if all things conspired to prove this the PRIMITIVE Tongue. We may observe, how forceably Nature struggles to demonstrate so much. The very first expression we make of life, at the very instant minute of our Births, is, as was touched on before, by uttering the Chinique word Ya. Which is not only the first, but indeed the sole and only expression, that Mankind from Nature can justly lay claim unto.  
The Language of China as hath been showed also consisteth all of Monosyllables, & in our Infancy, the first Notions of speech we have are all Monosyllables; as Ta, for Father; Ma, for Mother; Pate, for Brother; the like happening in all other terms, until by hearing and observing what others in our confused Language say, we altar accordingly, adding now and than a Letter or Syllable by degrees; whereby in the end we are brought to plain words. For, it is not by natural instinct, but by imitation, and as we are instructed that we arrive at speech, that is, in simple terms and words to express the open notions of things, which the second act of Reason compoundeth into propositions, and the last into forms of Ratiocination.  
The Chinois have not the Letter R, nor can 
I 〈◊〉 l' Amb. Or: par. 2. page 13.  ever by any possible means be brought to express or pronounce the same, whatever labour or diligence is used by them. And when our Children attain to riper Age; as if Nature abhorred the Confusion, what care and pains do we take, what opportunities not lay hold of, by practising and repeating to make them pronounce this Letter, till education after long contest prevailing they arrive thereat? Thus from our Births to our Infancy, and from our Infancy to Riper Age, till Nature is compelled to yield by the enforced power of instruction, unto corrupt speech, we generally throughout the Universe appear in our Language direct Chinois.  
But peradventure here likewise some will be ready to suggest, that the Language of China is not plain and easy, but difficult, not to strangers only, but the Natives also, in regard of the divers Accents and great Aequivocation of the words proceeding from them. To which is answered, that let the difficulty be supposed as great as thought may think, or Art can make, it relates unto strangers solely; and therefore cannot in the lest degree reflect upon the Primitiveness of the speech; because when the whole World had one common Language; throughout the whole World noon were strangers to that Language; but all people universally understood and spoke the same, being born Natives thereo●…, and learning it from their Mother's breasts, as the natural Chinois now do, or as any other Nation ever did theirs. It was the Confusion of Tongues, that first made strange Languages, and Strangers to them, whereby they become difficult to be attained. But afterwards, when either curiosity invited, or necessity compelled men to learn them, Art entered to act her part therein, and by methodical ways, and orderly Rules sweetened difficulty, and induced her to submit to diligence, which after much study nevertheless prevailed; and finally got the upper hand.  
And this China itself shall witness, for Pr. jacobus Pantoya finding it absolutely necessary for propagating of the Gospel, to know the true Idiom of the Language, framed our European musical notes UT, RE, MI, FA, SOL, LA, to answer in pronunciation unto the elevations and cadencies observable in the Chinique Accents which are these, ¯ ` ´ ˘ ˚  
The first Accent answers to the Musical 
A. Kirch. Ch. iii. par. 1. p. 12.  Note UT: but the Chinique sound or pronunciation, denotes the same, and it is the first producing an equal voice.  
The second, ¯ answers to RE, and among the Chinois, it is as much to say, as a clear equal voice: or as Golius hath it a word directly and equally cast forth. 
I Golius addit. de Reg. Cath. pag. 4.   
The third ` answers to MI; expressing with them of China, a lofty voice: more strongly delivered, but more flat in the pronunciation than the former.  
The fourth ´ answers to FAVORINA, and Chiniquely signifies, the lofty voice of one who is going forth; that speaks, in contrary to `, more freely and in an higher Tone; or as if it proceeded from one that puts a question.  
The fifth ˘ answers to SOL, and thereby in the Language of China, the quick or hasty voice of one that is coming in, is intended.  
The last, ˚, as also, denote a plain voice.  
By this invention the Society come to be much aided in overcoming the difficulty of the speech: And by the help of these notes strangers learn the Language, but with what labour, and by how many reflections, is easier in thought to be imagined, than by the pen, saith Kircherus, to be expressed. So that it is clearly manifest this 
A. Kir. Changed iii. par. 6. p. 236.  difficulty relateth unto Foreigners particularly; for the native Chinois, as the same Author affirmeth, never observe any Accents at all, but from their cradles, as almost all other Nations, are accustomed to the pronunciation of their MOTHER Tongue, although their Literati not only in actu exercito, but in actu signato, both in the Practic and Theory, know and teach every Letter to be pronounced truly, according to the respective Accent due to it. Which more fully adjusts the simplicity and purity of their Language; and the strict care they take to preserve the same.  
Now, as this difficulty is great unto strangers, who always in attaining whatever speech encounter much; So they are abundantly recompensed, and more advantaged in other respects; not only in regard as you lately heard, of the incredible commodity they receive, by saving the labour of learning divers Languages, whilst in China itself the Idiom varying, and in the adjacent Kingdoms the languages being different, they all agreed in writing; but also in regard of the many Elegancies arising from the double sense of the words, on which the difficulty is grounded. For this Aequivocableness is accounted the Elegancy of their Language, which consists, as was said, in the written Character rather, than the vocal word, and therefore to furnish That, the Chinois neglecting 
N. Trig. de Christ. Exp. apud Sin. lib 1. p. 27. Pur. Pilgr. l. 4. p. 447  This, all their negotiations of what kind soever are transacted, even all their most familiar messages sent, by way of memorial in writing, not by word of mouth. And from this Elegancy it is, that those of japan though they have of late times invented forty eight Letters for the dispatch of their ordinary affairs, by the connexion of which they express and declare whatever they please. Yet nevertheless the Characters of the Chinois in regard of the excellent terms, and phrases their Language affords, either (to use Semedo's words) for delivering of their minds with respect, submission, or in applause of another's merits, are still in such request, and so great estimation among them, as that those forty eight letters, howsoever they be more commodious to express their conceits are little regarded in comparison, but by way of contempt accounted, and called the womens' Lets. As Christo. Barri a late Italian Writer 
C. Barri in Cochin-Ch. cap. 6. M. Mart. Atl. Sin pa. 5.  in his Cochin-China asserts.  
Secondly Generality, Whereunto may be said, it is a matter exceeding all admiration, that a people whose numbers of all sorts consists of not fewer than two hundred Million of souls; whose Empire contains of Continent at lest two millions, five hundred ninety two thousand square miles, should understand one and the same Character, and that the self same Character should be in use among them. either in M. S. or printed Books, for more than three thousand seven hundred years. Certainly it seems impossible it should be thus, and certainly thus it is, without some peculiar care of Divine Power.  
Neither are their Characters understood throughout their whole Empire only, how far and wide soever it now extends, and by those people generally that were in time either Colonies 
A. Kirch Ch. iii. pa 6. pag. 2 G. Men Hist. del lib. 3. p 140, 14  of theirs, or conquered by them, as the japonians, Coreans, Laios, those of Tonchin, and Sumatra, with the Kingdom of Cochin-China; but several other bordering Countries and Islands also, although in speaking them, they understand one another not more than Greeks do Dutchmen. Because reading the Characters depravedly, they pronounce them in a different manner, alio atque 
M. Mart. Atl. Sin. p. 147.  alio ab iis legantur modo, as Martinius hath it, which more confirms, that those people that read and pronounce the Letters truly, speak the Language purely; and that could those foreign Nations read them rightly, they might not only speak the Chinique Language perfectly, but also understand one another plainly, in regard the speech continueth incorruptedly in the Character.  
And hence it is that Mendoza telleth us, that in China letters missive ready written and accommodated to all affairs, are publicly to be sold by every Bookseller in his shop, whither they be to be sent to persons of Honour, or inferior degree, or for to supplicate, reprehend, or recommend, or any other intents whatever occasion requires, although it be to challenge one another to the field, so that the buyer hath no more to do, than to subscribe, seal and sand them to the place intended at his pleasure.  
But their way of writing, is different from all other Nations of the world. For, whereas the Hebrews, Chaldaeans, Syrians, Arabians, and Egyptians writ from the right to the left, and the Greeks, Latins, and other people of Europe, from the left to the right. The Chinois draw their Characters from the top downwards, as by Antiquity Hieroglyphics were accustomed to be written, Their first perpendicular line nevertheless beginning on the right hand of the page. And in their writing they observe such equal distances, that there cannot be any thing more exact.  
Thirdly, Modesty of Expression; for it much reflects upon the Hebrew, as to the Antiquity thereof especially, that there are in it many somewhat obscene words; whereas by all learned men, it is presumed that the PRIMITIVE Language, was an harmless and in nothing immodest speech; but as innocent as the time in which it was at first infused into Mankind. Verba parùm honesta (qualia in omnibus linguis aliqua) 
M. Casaub. de 4 ling. pag. 28.  objicit Nyssenus, the Hebrew hath words scarcesly honest, saith Nyssenus, in his objection against it, as in M. Casaubon; who had he been acquainted with the Chinique Tongue, might have spared his Parenthesis. For Semedo will assure you, that the Chinois with great advantage exceed in this, for they are most modest in whatever they writ, 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 11.  and very rarely in their Verses (which in all other Languages are more or lesle lascivious) is a lose word to be found; and what is more, they have not any Character whereby to writ the privy parts, neither are they found written in any, or in any part of any, of all their Books. And from what cause happily this may proceed, hath been remembered before.  
Under this head we may also add, that the Hebrews are very famous for their honourable terms towards others, and humble towards themselves. As jacob said unto his Brother Esau, Let my Lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant. Gen. 33. v. 14. Thy servant our father is in good health, said the Brothers of joseph to him. Gen. 43. v. 28. And, thy servants shall bring down the grey hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. Gen. 44. v. 31. For which the Chinois 
A. Sem. Rel. de la Cin. par. 1. cap. 12.  are not lesle famous also. The son speaking to his father, saith, his Young son, though he be the eldest & married; the servant to his Master styleth himself Slave. In speaking one with another, they always do it with expressions of Honour, as among us, Sir, your Worship, and the like. Besides, even to inferior and ordinary people, they given an honourable name; as, a servant, if he be grave, they call, The great Master of the House; and we are taught, that joseph termed his Steward, The Ruler of his House, Gen. 43. v. 16. We read likewise, that Abraham called his wife Sister, saying, She is my sister, Gen. 20. ver. 2. And, Take no care my sister, said old Tobit to his wife, Tob. 5. v. 20. And if a Chinois speaks unto a woman, though she be not of any kin to him, he calls her, Sister-in-law.  
In like manner the Hebrew is much celebrated, for the mysterious significations of the proper names of men, in which Prophetical predictions were contained; and which Goropius in his Indo-Scythia, saith, the first Hebrews, might either by interpretation from the PRIMITIVE Language, or new imposition assign unto them. But though Moses might receive by Tradition from his Ancestors, that in the FIRST speech, names were thus mystically imposed; nevertheless, that by Divine Revelation he might so record them also, there is no doubt to be made. As; that Adam signified Read Earth, out of which he was created. Eve, that she should be the Mother of all living: Lamech, that he was to be the first, that should infringe the Rites of Matrimony instituted by God, in having two wives: Phaleg, that in his days the Earth should be divided. Now, what these Scripture names may signify in the Chinique Tongue; or whither yea or not, they have any such; or how the names of the Fathers of their first Families before they come to be governed by a Monarch may correspond to them, I leave unto the Chinique Lit terati. For, to have acquainted you with the affinity between the names of Noah, and jaus sufficeth us.  
But I am not to forget, that, as in the PRIMITIVE, so likewise in the Language of China the proper names of men have mysterious significations in them, Martinius in his History and Atlas will ascertain you. For, their sixth Emperor was called Cous as foretelling the eminent virtue he should be endued withal: Faus at his attaining the Crown changed his name and would be called Vus, as giving his subjects to understand thereby, what a warlike and valiant Prince, they should found him to be: Ngayus would at his coming to the Throne take upon him the name of Pingus, i e. Pacificus, as if inspired that CHRIST the true Pacifique King should during his reign be born: And Chingus was called Xius, which name the Chinois afterwards found too truly imposed; for he observed no moderation in any thing, being sometimes virtuous, sometimes vicious, equally valiant and cruel.  
Besides not only of their Kings and Great 
Purch. Pilgrimage, lib. 4. pag. 445.  men, but also of all the people generally, both the names and surnames are significant; their surnames are ancient and unchangeable, and there are not of them a thousand in all China; 
N. Trig. de Christ. Exp. apud Sin. lib. 1. p, 84.  but their other names are arbitrary at the pleasure of the Father. What should I say of the mysterious names of their Empire, having touched upon them before, seeing Trigautius tells 
Id. lib. 1. p. 4.  us, that it was of old called Than, as being unbounded and without limits; then Thou, as the place of rest and quietness; afterwards Hia, as much to say, as Great; then again Sciam, as enriched with all things; then Cheu, a place of perfection; but pretermitting others, Han signifies the milky way in Heaven. For, from all Antiquity it hath been customary with them, when any new family come unto the Crown, according to the mystical signification of the proper name thereof, to given a new name unto the Empire.  
Fourthly, the Utility; for, the Language of China affordeth us, the Acknowledgement of one only true God; Theology taught by Noah; Predictions of CHRIST in exotique Regions many Centuries of years before his Incarnation: devout Ejaculations, such, as cannot (O the shame!) among Christians without difficulty be found; eloquent Orations, fuch, as nor Greek nor Roman oratory exceeds; Warlike Stratagems, such, as Hannibal and Fabius were, and the greatest Captains are to learn: Valour giving place to noon; Physic not to be paralleled by any; Agriculture surmounting all: The Mathematics; Mechanics; Morality; I cannot have words for all unless from China. But if ex ungue Leonem, from the claw the greatness of the Lion may be judged; then, for Policy in government, Rules for Magistrates, Laws for People, not executed negligently like ours (in Europe) as if no matter whither yea or not they were ever made, neither Empire, nor Kingdom, nor Commonwealth ever or at this day▪ known, can be brought to stand in competition with the Monarchy of China. Whereby, since her dominion become successive (the inconsiderable duration of the Western Tartars set aside) she hath enjoyed the same in a continued succession of Monarches of her own blood, three thousand eight hundred fifty one years, accounting to the year of CHRIST one thousand six hundred forty four, at which time the now Tartars took possession of her Throne.  
Fifthly, and lastly the Brevity. Lasua Brevità la fa aequivocà, mà per l'istessa causa compendiosa; The Brevity of the Chinique Language makes it 
A. Sem. Rel de la Ciu. par. 1. c, 6.  aequivocal, but for the same reason compendious, saith Semedo. Whereby we may observe, that the Aequivocableness which is said to be so difficult and troublesome to strangers, is even by strangers themselves celebrated; and in regard of the compendiousness most acceptable and pleasingly welcome to the Chinois, who are very particular affectors of brevity in speech. Insomuch that our Author is of opinion, that they were either imitators of (which because they are far more ancient they could not be) or imitated by the Lacedæmonians. And elsewhere he conceives, that Lycurgus had his Law for prohibiting the access of strangers into his Commonwealth from China. Wherhfore, and in regard that Plutarch finds him to have been in India, and to have conferred with the Gymnosophists there, we may presume to think, that Lycurgus during his forien travails was in China likewise, and adorned his Laws not only with those customs of theirs, but also several others the like, as they are by Plutarch in his life recorded, though nothing in relation thereunto can otherwise be collected out of the Histories of the Greeks. And why? For that the Lawgivers of the Ancients, Lycurgus, Solon and the rest, among the Grecians; as also Numa among the Romans were too politic, and ambitious of glory, to proclaim from whence really they derived their knowledge; whilst one must have his Aegeria, another his Pyrhioness; so Mahomet had his Dove, & Fohius his Dragon, who because his Chinois reputed the sight of that Creature to be a great Omen of Felicity, persuaded 
M. Mart. Sin. hist. lib. 1. p. 22.  them into a belief, that he took the invention of his Characters, and their use, from the back of a Dragon, as it come out of the water, that by a Prodigy the greater estimation might be set upon his new Art And in like manner, as most Lawgivers have fathered their Laws upon one Deity or other, the more to ●…onfirm the people in an awful reverence of them, and their institutions.  
But if the Brevity of a Language be a remark of the PRIMITIVE Tongue, as it is asserted to be; the Chinique seemeth to surpass all other Nations of the World therein. For as thereby, the Aequivocableness is enriched with compendiousness, so is the compendiousness beautified with gracefulness and sweetness, beyond in a manner all Example. To which purpose Semedo proceeds, saying, con esser lingua eosi limitata, è tanto dolce, che quasi supera tutte l'altre che conosciamo, that by being so succinct a Language, it is so sweet, that it exceedeth, as it were all others that we know. And that we might not acquiesce in a single testimony, Nieuhoff assureth us also, La Brievete de cette Langue est si agreeable, quej'oserois 
I Nieuh. l'Amb. Or. par. 2. p. 13.  presque luy donner le premier rang entre tou●…es celles qui nous sont con●…es jusq●…s a present; the Brevity of this Language is so graceful, that I dare almost given it, saith he, the first rank among all those that are at this day known.  
Now to given a Language the first or premier rank, as to succinct Sweetness, and graceful Brevity is a great step towards the granting of it to be, the PRIMITIVE Language; Considering which, together with the exemplary Utility; remarkable Modesty; admirable Generality; great Simplicity, and high Antiquity; we may from these Arguments almost dare to affirm, that the Language of the Empire of China is the PRIMITIVE Language. But, having moreover found Noah to have lived both before and after the flood in China, and that Their speech hath from all Antiquity been in one and the same Character preserved in books to this day; which is such a plea, as can be drawn up and entered, for no other Nation under Heaven, since the Creation of the World besides; we may more than almost dare to affirm, that the Chinois have obtained a full and final decree, for the settlement of this Their claim to the FIRST of Languages without all farther dispute.  
Now, as for consent of Authors to strengthen our Assertion. It may be demanded, what consent of Authors H●… had, that first found out there were Antipodes; or He that first discovered the Circulation of the blood? Thos●… that so absolutely pin their belief upon the shoulders of such consent; are, we may say, like sheep; wither one leads, the rest all run, without weighing whither the right or wrong way be taken; so that many times they bring not only themselves, but also their followers into errors, who by their prevarication the more increase them. But what consent of Authors can be expected? The Scripture teacheth, That the whole World was drowned; Noah and his family being saved only: Authors consent, that at the same time China was drowned; some few only escaping on a mountain there. The Scripture, That Nimrod come from the East to the valley of Shinaar: Authors, That in the East divers Nations were planted before Nimrod come to the valley of Shinaar. The Scripture, That from the flood until the Confusion of Tongues, the whole Earth was of one Language: Authors, That from the flood until that Confusion, that Language was universally common, as well to Those, that were in the East, as Those, that were at Babel. The Scripture, That the Language of Those only that were at Babel, was confounded: Authors, That the Language of Those, that were before planted in the East was not confounded. And all of them unanimoufly consent, that China was planted before the Confusion of Tongues; and that at this day the Chinois use the same Language, and have the same Letters, as when at first they were planted, and become a People.  
We have for many years heard many discourses of this extreme part of Asta; many relations have been published thereof; and many learned men conceived those relations to be fabulous; suspecting as it were the Providence of God, that any people should live upon the Earthly Globe, in so great happiness, in so great felicity, so many thousands of years unknown. But of late, what through the unconquerable patience of Those, that contemning all difficulties and perils, have adventured to conquer Idolatry, and advance the standard of ●…ESUS CHRIST; what through the opportunity, that hath been given to others also, by the late Conquest of the Tartars, to hold free commerce in China; we now at last have obtained, though scarcely twelve months since, the true and authentic Histories of that Empire. Scarcely twelve months since I say, wherhfore perhaps, as yet they are not so much as turned over by those that have procured them. Let them be read, perused, and studied, and then it will be found, Authors have so far consented; That if the Chinique Tongue be not the PRIMITIVE, I might, for my own particular, consent with that great Dictator of learning H. Grotius. That the first speech which men used before the 
〈◊〉. Grotius in Gen. c. 11.  Deluge, remains now properly in no place, only the Relics thereof may be found in all Languages .But finding our not lesle learned Bishop Walton, and many other famous men, altogether unwilling I should submit thereto; and that Grotius was not acquainted with our late Chinique writers, I will now at last take leave to be positive, that more, and with more certainty cannot for the speech of whatever other Nation under Heaven, be said; and that there is so great consent already both of sacred Scripture, and unquestionable Authors, that we may well conclude, until as full consent, and as great certainty be produced for any other, the Language of the Empire of CHINA is the PRIMITIVE Language.  
FINIS.   

 

   

ERRATA.  
PAg. 5. lin. 27. For words, read viands. p. 9 l. 12. r. the whole world. Id. l. 13. r. in the whole world. p. 16. l. 19 r. Plantations before, as themselves were sent from elsewhere. Ibid. l. 21. read procure. p. 24. l. 3. r. calum. p. 28. l. 32. r. ad hoc credendum. p. 31. l. 14. r. judaea. p. 33. l. 2. r. that although those. p. 49. l. 15. r. Chungque. Ibid. l. 16. expresseth. p. 51. l. 13. r. Fohius. and so in pag. 52. 57 93. pag. 59 l. 24. r. alcuni. p. 63. l. 19 r. as rich. p. 64. l. 2. r. reserved. Ib. l. 20. r. Fabius Pictor. p. 67. l. 12. r. prosecuted. p. 72. l. 4. r. Zaraedras. p. 77. l. 3. r. ut hunc solum eluvionis. p. 82. lin. ult. r. Tangiu. p. 83. l. 21. r. in length. p. 87. l. 6. r. Trigautius, and so elsewhere. p. 88 l. 19 r. ex doctrina 〈◊〉 Noe. p. 102. l. 5. r. their Emperors of old erected. pag. 106. l. 15. Yebiang. p. 109. l. 11. r. Natives. p. 111. l. 27. r. Nanking. pag. 112. l. 24. r. which though many. Ib. l. ult. r. Ucienian. p. 113. l. 1. & 20. r. Sinktesimo. p. 114. l. 16. r. Indigo. p. 115. l. 33. r. Croceus. pag. 123. l. 31. r. all the Royalets. p. 124. l. 18. r. those Provinces. pag. 125. l. 14. r. free liberty of conversation and study. Ib. lin. 16. r. Hiavows. pag. 128. l. 16. r. Cochin-China. p. 153. l. 15. r. Kircherus. p. 155. l. 13. r. sedes. p. 170. l. 2. r. decreasings. p. 177. l. 31. r. of the Northern. p. 182. l. 26. r. turned downwards.  
In the Margin.  
Pag. 98. For, I Nieuhoff, par. 1. pag. 11. r. pag. 1. Pag. 114. r. Forneu●… 〈◊〉 ●…ois bien bouches. pag. 131. For, Id. r. M. Mart. Bell. Tartar. pag. 1.