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 131 . 
 
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THE 
 
 Prefent CONDITION j 
 
 Mufcovite E M P I R E, | 
 
 Tïîl the Y E A R ‘1699, 
 
 X N f W O : 
 
 LE TT ER R ; 
 
 The Fir!t from a Gentleman, who waS Converti 11c J 
 
 W I T H T H E j 
 
 Mufcovite Ambafladour in Holland: j 
 
 The 'Second from a Perfôn of Qualiry at 
 
 VIE N N A , | 
 
 Concerning rhe laie 
 
 Mufcovite EMBASSY, 
 
 His prefèrit Czarifo MajeJlj ; | 
 
 THE 
 
 RUS SI A N EMPIRE; 
 
 AND ' 
 
 great-tartary. I 
 
 W I TH THE 
 
 L I F En 
 
 O. the Prefent 1 
 
 Emperour of C HINA. 
 
 By Father J BOUVET, Mifliohary. 
 
 B y the A.i-hor of the and n ref e’it Sittte r.fMnf'ovy. 
 
 LOI: BON, Printed for F. Ceggav, in the Inner-Temple-Lune* 
 
5 ■ 
 
 i 
 
 f 
 
THÉ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 T HE Two following Let • 
 ter s , which I hâve here 
 prefented, tro the Reader, 
 being lately corne to my hands, and 
 containibg a fhort but raoft exa£b 
 and authentick Account of the pre- 
 fent Condition of the Mufcovite 
 Empire^- I thought I could fcarce 
 do a mbre acceptable piece of Ser- 
 vice to the Publick at this Jun&ure, 
 than to communicate them to the 
 Curious. The firft Letter was writ- 
 tenby a Gentleman, who being at 
 Amjleldam at the time of that So- 
 lemn Mufcovite Embaffy • and 
 whilftthe Czar was there prêtent, 
 had the Honour to be intimately 
 A ac- 
 
The c Preface. 
 
 acquainted with fomè of the Muf- 
 •vites of the firft R.ank‘ there, which 
 gave him the opportunity to be in- 
 formé concerning thefe Matters , 
 which hitherto either are 
 not at ail, or at leaft, but very con- 
 fufedly corne to our Knowledge. 
 Thoiè, who will lèrioully reflet 
 rfpon what this Gentleman has beçn 
 pleafed to tell us concerning the 
 two Sieges of Afoph, its true Situ- 
 ation , Advantage and Strength ; 
 concerning the prelènt State of the 
 Mufcovite Navy, and their Mari- 
 tim Affairsj with lèverai other 
 moft Curious Cbfèrvations, relate- 
 ing ta his Czarijb Majejl/s Perfon, 
 efpecially Tracé his departure out of 
 EngUnd, will, I fuppofe, agréé with 
 me in Opinion, that this Account 
 is the moft.exaÔ:, and' perhaps alfb 
 the moft authentick we hâve had 
 of this kind for many^ Years before. 
 The fécond being an Abftraèf of 
 feveral Letters written by a Perfon 
 of Qyality, then Refiding at the 
 Impérial Court at Vienni, gïves us 
 
The Préfacé. 
 
 a faithful Account both of his own 
 Sentiments and ofthe wholelmperial 
 Court concerning the prefentStateof 
 Affaiis in Mufcovy •, with very Cu- 
 rious Obfervations upon feveralre* 
 markable Subje&s, relating to the 
 laft Peace with the Turks ; and the 
 Way by Land throügh the Great- 
 Tartary into China. 
 
 Àny cne that will be at the 
 pains, to compare the Maps the 
 Geographers hâve been pleafed to 
 put upon the World formerly, of 
 the North Eaftern Parts of Afia, 
 with this Ac:ount, will foon be 
 convinced of their Ignorance, when 
 they hâve reprefented this Part of 
 the World, which is Stock’d with 
 vaft Numbers of Inhabitants, and 
 Water’dby fo many great andfair 
 Rivers , as inhabitable For refis and 
 Defàrts. In the whole, thefe two 
 Letters ma y well be confider’d as : a 
 Supplément of the Antient an ci Pre- 
 : fut State of Mufcovv, pobîifhed 
 at the tirne of His CzariOi Maje- 
 fty’s being in Engl and ; many things 
 
The Préfacé. 
 
 of Moment which hâve happened 
 fince, being inferted here, and re- 
 lated upon the Crédit of thofè 
 Perfons, who had the opportunity 
 of taking the beft Information that 
 can be expe&ed of tjiis kind. I 
 will not prétend to enlarge much 
 upon the Hiftorical Portrait ure, 
 given us by Father Bouvet , of the 
 prefènt Emperour of China., fup- 
 pofing that his being an F.ye-wit* 
 nefs of what he relates , and his 
 offering it to the moft Chriftian 
 King, will be a fufficient Plea, both 
 for his Authority and Veracity, to 
 ^he unbyafs’d Reader. 
 
 The 
 
ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 T O THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 W Hen I confider the Geniiis 
 of the Age we lïve in, 
 which is fo much inclined to call in 
 queftion every thifig that Cornes 
 frcm far Remote Placés, I hâve ait 
 the Reafon ift the World, to fear 
 that thefè Memôirs will undergo the 
 lame Faté, and will not meet with 
 that favourablê interprétation, the 
 faithfuînels and exa&nels where- 
 with, they are written, mighc juft- 
 fy Challenge from unqualified Per- 
 Sons, 
 
 But 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 But as I hâve not inferted the 
 leaft thing, of which I hâve not 
 either been an Eye-witnefs my fèlf, 
 or elfe hâve received it ray felf from 
 unqueftionable hands, fo I am apt 
 to flatter my felf, that the Reader 
 will look upon this Relation with 
 another Eye, than is commonly 
 done upon ordinary accounts; I 
 hope no body will think'mefo Im- 
 pudent, as to dare to Prelènt to the 
 moft quick-fighted and greateft Mo- 
 narch of the World , any thing 
 which is not in ail its circumftan- 
 ces, agreeable to Truth y which 
 muft needs bring upon me the juft 
 Indignation of His Majefty, and 
 at the fàrae time, be a means to 
 forfeit the Good Opinion of 
 the Greateft Emperour of the 
 Orient . 
 
 But whatever the Spirit of Con- 
 tradiction mày be able to invent, to 
 render thelè Meraoirs fufpeCted to 
 the World. I dont queftion, but that 
 Truth which is reprelènted liere 
 wïthout Contradiction, in its Genu- 
 ine 
 
To the Reader . 
 
 ine Shape, will prote£t me both 
 here and in China againft ail gain- 
 fayers ; the only thing which I hâve 
 to relent at, being, that I havç -not 
 been able to reprefènt in their full 
 Luftre ail fuch Matters , as muft 
 needs be infinitely pleafing to ail, 
 who are truly Zealous for the pro- 
 pagation of the Faith. 
 
 BOWET . 
 
Moft Chriftian King. 
 
 May.it pleaft YeurMajefty. 
 
 r HE Portraiture rvhich I am 
 tnking ,the Liberty toprefeni 
 at thü tune to Tour Msjefly, is cer- 
 faittly tbe One of ihe rare fl and mot 
 curions that h as been brought from 
 ihe Eafh Ail tbe Memoirs bot b of 
 tune pajiy and even of tbis Country, 
 caii furnflh us. but mihntery few Sub * 
 je lis, ivhich , If I dare grefume to 
 Jay fo , are more xvorth Tour Attention 
 and Curioflty ; I need not jay any tbing 
 mcre than, that it is tbe Portraiture 
 of a Monarch , r vbo having ihe good 
 Fortune to Refemble Tour Majefly in 
 mcfl Hefpecis, erflôys tbe famé Aid* 
 ‘vantages ïn reference to bis great 
 Aon, among tbe Pagan Prince t, which 
 Tour Majefly is Poffef/d of m thé 
 fbrgfli an "World. 
 
 Tbe 
 
Epiftle Dedicatorjr. 
 
 The Jefuits, xvhich byTour Maje- 
 fiy hâve been Employé A- as Mijjlonar 
 ries into China fome y car s ago , 
 were not a little [urprifed to meet at 
 ihe utmofi corner of the Earth mit h 
 ivhat they h ad ne ver feen before but 
 in France, that is to fay ; a Prince , 
 iv ho, likc Tour felfi h a s improved his 
 fubhme 'Genius by that Greatnefi of' 
 Soûl, which alone renders him worthy 
 of the greateft Empire of the T ni- 
 verfe', xvho h as the famé uncontroul • 
 ed Power over his Paffions, as over his 
 Subjefis , equally Adore d by his P co- 
 pie and Efleemed by his Neibgbcurs ; 
 who, as his Glorious Enterprices hâve 
 been Crowned with Succefi \ fo fiands 
 more indebted for it to his oxon Ealour 
 and Conduclythan Fortune ; In jhort, a 
 Prince in whom are center d mo(l of 
 fhefie.great Qualifications requifite to 
 make an accomplfiod Hero, and who 
 veouAd rvithout queftion be accounted 
 the moH G l on cm JA on dre h upon Earth, 
 If his Reign had not been coïncident 
 with that of Jour Majefly. 
 
 h 
 
Epiftle Ded ica tory. 
 
 It muït be confefs’d that hitkerto 
 he is fo unhap'py as to be a Pagan, 
 whkh makes him uncapable of thefe 
 moff Eminent Prérogatives, without 
 tvhicB, ail the other Royal Qualifies 
 want the mofè jolid Foundation y y et 
 it may be truly faid of htm , that he 
 has. made a confier able fiep towards 
 it by tbe High Efieem he . bas of our 
 Religion , by the Satisfaction he takes 
 in the Convcrfon of his SubjefiÇs to 
 the Chriftian Faith t vohich gives us 
 no fmall hop es , that in time , by the 
 Grâce fo God> be entirely united to 
 the Church. 
 
 For , confier ing rvhat favourablç 
 inclinations God has been pleafed to 
 tnfpire into his Heart for the Chri - 
 si tan Religion , by the ms ans of our 
 Arts and Sciences , me are not beyond 
 hopes , that one day h* may prove the 
 Destflruliion of the Pagan Idolatry in 
 China; endeavouring in this, as in 
 many other things , to tread in the 
 footfleps of Tour Majefiy , who bave 
 male it Tour Chiefeft Glory , to root 
 \ sut Herefe in jour ‘Dominions , and 
 
 to 
 
Epiftle Dedicatoxy. 
 
 to prop agate the truc Religion tbro~ 
 out ad Parts of the World. 
 
 WM it not le the greatefi Happi* 
 nefs and Glory of Tour Majefiy s 
 Rergn, tint the famé Arts and Sci- 
 ences , svhich hâve been brought to 
 the higbett pitch of Protêt ion', %y jour 
 Encouragement andprotcîiion, fijould 
 he tfe happy Infiniment s of thefe fa- 
 vourable Inclinations , the prefent Em- 
 pereur of China fbews for our Reli- 
 gion ; and if the Chinefes fhould he 
 convtnced in time of the Great ad- 
 •vantage the Trutb of the Gofiel bas 
 over their vain Philofophy , to 
 
 ferve as a Me ans bot h for the Sove- 
 raign and his S ub fi El s , to fubmit 
 themfelves , notveitkfianàing ail their 
 Self conçoit, ( in xvbich th’ey firpafs 
 tnofi, Rations ) to the for cible trutb 
 of the Chrifiian Religion . 
 
 Thefe are the bopes uahich may 
 be conceiv d from true Hifiorical 
 Portraiture of this Prince ; the on- 
 lything / fear, is , that the P e ne il of 
 the Painter bas donc confiderable 
 wrong to the Original < But if ail the 
 
Epiftlè Dedicatorÿ. 
 
 Linéaments are not fo Nice and Ex" 
 aÏÏ as they (houtd be, I am / tire they 
 are true \ and ail the Favours this Mo - 
 narch h as been pleaf °dto heap upon 
 us, hâve not been Power fui enough to 
 induce me , to déviât e in the leaft from 
 the Reftetf due to Tour Majejly: 
 and Tr ut h it felf y in fo Nice a Point , 
 in rvhich the Interefl of the Gofpel y 
 which rvas never feparated from Jours ? 
 is fo narrowly concerned . 
 
 fit K 
 
 t 
 
I 
 
 The Prefent 
 
 CONDITION 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ; jMufcovile E M P I R E, 
 
 T I L L T H E 
 
 Y E A R 1699, 
 
 In a L E T T E R from a Gen - 
 tletr.an) ivho woa Conaierfdnc 
 with the late Mufcovite Am- 
 baffadours in Holland. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I N your Iaft you defired me to acquaint 
 you with what I had been able to learn 
 concerning the prefent State of JMttfco- 
 vy, during the Stay of that moil folemn 
 Embafiy of His Caarijb Majefty in this Ci- 
 ty. I am extreamly well pleafed, you hâve 
 put me in the way of fatisfying in fonpe 
 B f > meafüve 
 
2 The prefent Condition 
 
 meafure your Curidfity, luvingby the fre- ; 
 qufent Converfaîion with the iaid Ambaiïa- 
 dours, had the opportunity to inform ray 
 felf of feveral Matters of great Confe- 
 quence, not commonly known in thefe 
 Parts., I cannot but be amaz’d at the 
 {frange Notions the greateft Part hâve 
 forafd to themielves of the prefent Con- 
 dition of the Adxfcovites , being prepoflefs’d 
 with an Opinion, that this Monarchy is of 
 fo Iitde Confequence in refpeél of the other 
 Eurepean Kingdoms, as fcarce to be worth 
 taking notice of. 
 
 But whoever will take the trouble to 
 make a true infight into the prefent Potture 
 of their Alïairs, will be forced to confefs, 
 that there are fevv Kingdoms in Europe, 
 which at this time may be loolfd upon as a 
 more proper Objeél of our Curiodty. 
 
 It is not to be denied, but that befbre the 
 Year 1645, when Czar Alexis AEchaelovii<, 
 (dns prefent Czarifh Ma jefty ’s Father) came 
 to the Crown, the Ad 'fcorvites were much 
 more barbarous, that they cultivdted but a 
 very-flender Correfpondence, and had but 
 little Commerce with foreign Nations ; and 
 that being ill vers’d in ail manner of Sci- 
 ences, they were confequently very igno- 
 rant of the Military Art and Difcipline, at 
 leaft as it is praftifed now .a-days in Eu- 
 ' rope ; which was the true H.eafon of their 
 iil Succefsin fo many Encounters, and that, 
 tho’ naturally fierce and hardy, they were 
 îiequently worfted by their Enemies, tho’ 
 much infèridr in Number. 
 
 The 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 
 
 The Czar Alexis Michaclovitz,, a Prince 
 of a vaft Underftanding, and a Great Po- 
 litician, having immediately after his Ac-, 
 ceffion to the Tnrone, inveiiigated the true 
 Caufe of the Difadvantage, the Mufcovite s 
 lay undev at that time, in reiped of other 
 foreign Nations, applied ail his Thoughts 
 to remove this Obftacle. The belt Expé- 
 dient he couîd pitch upon, was, todraw in- 
 to his Service as maiiy foreign Officers as 
 poffibly he could, to inftruft his Subje&s in 
 the Modem Art of War ; And the better. 
 to compafs his Defign, he made ufc of ail 
 the Politicks that could hâve been inventcd 
 by the moffi refined Politician. For being 
 fenfible, that it would be no eafie Task to 
 engage a confiderable Number of well qua- 
 lified foreign Officers into his Service, he 
 infenfibly brought them over to his Party, 
 by the Promifes of great Pay, of entire 
 Liberty of Confcience, of what Religion 
 foever ; and by taking them into his Ser- 
 vice but for a littlé urne : ail which was ve- 
 ry punclually obferved on his fide. Th us 
 he put his proje&ed Defign in execution, 
 vvith fo extraordinary Succefs, that accord - 
 ing to the Account given by the Baron of 
 Meyerbergh, who was in the Lear 1662, 
 lent by his prefent Impérial Majefty Leo- 
 gald, as his Arabafl’adour into Mufcovy, 
 there were among the foreign Officers in 
 the Czar Alexis Michaelovitxis Service, two 
 Générais, two Marfhals de Camp, above a 
 Knndred Collonels, a great Nnmber of 
 jors j Captains, Lieutenants and Enfigns, ra 
 B 2 jir©- 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 prodigious Nu m bers, who- were àll paid 
 very punftualiy. This Account coming 
 from a Perfon, who otherwife feldom fpeaks 
 weli of the Mafcovites and their AtrairSj 
 defelves to be particularly taken notice of 
 in this place; 
 
 Thefe abovementioned Officers, having 
 made their Le vies in divers parts of the 
 Coaniry-, fubjecfc to the Obedience of the 
 Czars çtfMafcovy, and brought thera under a 
 régulai .Martial Dhciplines, did afterwards 
 .in lèverai Encounters with the Pôles and 
 Swedes, give fufficient Proofs, that the 
 Alxfcovites don't want Bravery, when 
 they are, led on by good and experienc a 
 Officers. But, befides thefe new Levies, the 
 Czar had always on foot a certain ftanding 
 Numberof old Troops, not unlike to the 
 Roman Légions ; thofe the Mufcovltes call 
 Srrelitz.es } confifting of forty Thoufand 
 Men, under the Comrnand of the Chiefeft 
 of the lNJobility of the Empire. 
 
 It is further to be obferved, that the în- 
 troducing of a more regular Difcipline a- 
 mong the Mufcovlte Forces, was not the 
 oniy Reafon vy hic-h induc’d the Czar Alexis 
 Michaelovitz ., to entertain fo vaft a Num- 
 ber of foreign Officers in his Service, it 
 having beeii prov’d by Expérience, That 
 the lamé was in a great meafure, founded 
 upon the Security of the Prince s Perfon, 
 whô before that time, having committed 
 the whole Management of their ftanding 
 Forces to' the Nobility, thereby gave theni 
 frequent 'opportunies of abùling their Pow- 
 
of the Mufcovi te Empire . 5 
 
 er, in oppofition to the Royal Authority. 
 
 This Great Prince died in the Year 1 6 7 6, 
 much laraented by his People, whofe Dar- 
 •ling he was, as having not once, in ail his 
 Reign, in the leaft abufed his Abfolute Pow- 
 er, but given thein a t'ioufand Demonftra- 
 tions of his Modération, Juftice and Pie- 
 ty. It was he, that firft changed the face of 
 A d'airs of the Ruffian Empire, and laid 
 that Foundation , upon which the 
 Greatnefs of Mufcovj lias been built 
 lince that time, and which is likely to be 
 brought to perfection, by the prefent Grand 
 Czar Peter Alexiavttx . 
 
 He left the Succeffion of the Crown to 
 his eideft Son ,-Fedor Alexiovitz, who reign- 
 ed but fîx years, his early Lofs was like- 
 wife rauch lamented by his Subje&s, being 
 a very Accomplifh’d Perfon, and who had 
 given ex traordinary hopes of a Good and 
 Great Prince, having exa&îy foilowed his 
 Father’s footfteps, efpecially in what con- 
 cerns the foreign Officers, and the Encou- 
 ragement of Commerce. He was a great 
 lover of ail Sciences, but efpecially of the 
 Mathematicks, and defign’d to hâve ali 
 the Houfes of the City of Mufcovr, new 
 built of Brick, and the Streets pav’d with 
 Stones, if he had not been prevented by 
 Death ; It was under his Reign, th^t Ge- 
 neral Le Fort , of whom I fhall hâve oc- 
 calion to fpeak more anon, entred into the 
 , Service oïAlfficovy. He was on a fuddén,feizkl 
 by a violent and continuai Eeaver,of which 
 :,e died in a few days afte » having before 
 
6 The prefent Condition 
 
 his death appointëd his younger Brother 
 Peter , begotcen by a fécond Adventure, his 
 Succeflour, as judging his own Brocher 
 Ivan {John) who was of a weakly Confti- 
 tution, uncapabîe of bearing the Burthen 
 of fo Great an Empire. 
 
 ■ Accordingly Peter Alexiovitz, was pro- 
 cl aimed Czar of Mufcovy , when he wàs 
 fcarce eleven years of Age. Bv/thePrin- 
 cefs Sophia, Daughter of the deceafed Czar 
 Alexis Alichaelovitz. , by his firft Marriage, 
 beingof a very afpiring Temper, and na- 
 turally difpofed to Caballing , could not 
 brook tofee her own Brother excluded from 
 -the Succeihon to the Ruffian Throne ; for 
 which Reafon, fhe fet ali her Engines àt 
 work, to put the Crown upon her Brother 
 Ivan Alexiovitz, , or rather, her own Head. 
 The better to encompafs this Delîgn, fhe 
 took care to hâve it fpread abroad, that the 
 late Czar Fedor Alexioviffi, her Brother, had 
 been poyfoned by the Phÿficiar.s, at the 
 ïnftigation of iome of the Chief Men of 
 the Empire, whofe Names were induftri- 
 oulîy publifhed as the Authors and Pi o- 
 moters of fo hellifh a Crime. Being fen- 
 fible that nothing could ftrengthèn : her In- 
 tereft more, than if fhe couîd draw the 
 Strelifkxs into her Party ; it was rumouCd 
 abroad, That a Defign was forafd 
 againft them at Court, it being refôlved, 
 That the Strong Liquor which was to be 
 rtiven at the Czar’s Funeral, fliould 
 be mix’d vvith Poffon, 
 
of the Mufco vite Empire . 7 
 
 Tbis fucceeded according to the Princef- 
 fes Expectation , for the Strelitz.es being En- 
 raged by thisfudden and unexpeéted News, 
 ran in a moffi Furious manner to the Pal- 
 lace, . where they began the Fray with the 
 Slaughter of two of the Czafs Phyficians, 
 the Chief of vvhom was a Jew by Extra- 
 ction ; die next were fome of the Princi- 
 pal Officers of the Crown , fuch as were 
 mark ’d out by the Princels, as being oppo- 
 site to her Interelf. Their Rage did not 
 ftop here, but after they had committed a 
 thoufand Infolences and Murthers, they 
 aflaulted, and entred the Czar Peter Alexio - 
 vit z s Lodgings, where they flew many of 
 his moft faiijiful Officers and Friends of 
 the firft Quality, in his prefence, and then 
 prodaimed Prince Ivan Alexiovitz , Grand 
 Czar of Mufctnj, in ‘conjunçtion with Pe- 
 ter Alexiovitz. 
 
 Thus a Calm fucceeded the Storm, which 
 however lafted not long. For the Princels 
 Sophia, whofe Ambition was not fatisfied 
 with feeing her Brother Ivan mounted up- 
 on the Throue, entred inro fecret Cabals 
 y/ith PecLor ( Théodore J Chikplowitin , the Ge- 
 neral of the Strelitzes \ untp whom ffie re- 
 prefented, That ffie only having made ufe 
 of her Brother, as a Pretext to put the 
 Crown upon her own Head, ffie waswil- 
 ling to make him her Spoufe, and Affociate 
 in the Empire, ifhewould join his Power 
 and Intere f with hers> and that it would 
 be no difficult Matter to compafs their De- 
 fien, the Rnjfian Empire being too heavy 
 5 - - B $ 
 
The prejent Condition 
 
 a Burthen for the Shoulders of two Infants. 
 
 The General of the Strelitz.es 7 not able to 
 reftft fuch powerful Charms, they left no 
 ftone unturn’d to bring their projeéted Defign 
 to maturitÿ, which was to be begun with 
 the Death of both tîie Czars, and would in 
 allhumane probability hâve fucceed accor- 
 ding to their wifh, if the Plot had not 
 been timely difcovered to Their Majefties. 
 
 The two Czars having ail the reafon in 
 the World to miftrufl the Strelhzes, retired 
 thereupon to the Couvent of Troitza, a 
 ftrong and well ^ fortifred place , about 
 twelve Leagues diftance ftom the Capital 
 City of Mufcow , where Monfieur Le Fort 
 gave them many lignai Proofs of hisBra- 
 very andFidelity. To be Ihort, they drew 
 the General of the Strelitz.es into an Ara* 
 bufh near Troitza, where being taken, he 
 was carried Prifoner into the Couvent, and 
 had his Head eut olf. He was a Perfon of 
 tnean Extraction, who, as he had raifed 
 himfelf to that height by his own Valourj 
 fo he brought himfelf to a miferable End 
 by his Treachery ; The P rince fs Sophia w'a-s 
 fhut up in a Convent, where £he .is very 
 narrowly watch’d. \ 
 
 Quiet being thus recovered in the Go- 
 vernment , by removing the Two Chief 
 Heads of the Rébellion, thefe Régiments 
 of the Strelitz.es , as had fhew’d themfelvës 
 moh vigorous againlt the Czars Interdt, 
 being divided into many fmail Bodies, were 
 fent into feveral parts of the Couutry un- 
 lier theGuard of fome otlier Troops, wliolç 
 ** Office!? 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 9 
 
 Officers having received fecret Inftru&ions 
 to faiJ upon tnem at a certain appointée! 
 time, they put their Orders in execution, 
 with fo much Exa&nèfs, that very few ef- 
 caped their Hands. 
 
 It was particuîarly taken notice cf at that 
 time, and iook'd upon as a Prefage of the 
 future Greatnefs of the prefent Czar Peter 
 Alexiovitz ,, that, when lèverai of his neareft 
 Frienâs were maffacred by the Rcbellioüs 
 Strelitz.es in his prefence, he did r.ot fhew 
 the leaft Al teration in his Countenance,which 
 ftruckfuch an Amazement irto the Soldi- 
 ers, thattiiey durit notprefume to dethrone 
 him, but were contented to proclaim his 
 Brocher Ivan his AlTociate in the Empire. 
 
 Thofe who hâve known his prefent Czerifb 
 Majefty in his moft tender Age, dounani- 
 mouily confèfs, That froin his verylnfancy, 
 there bas been obfcrved in him a certain 
 Greatnefs 'of Soui , and a piercing Wit, 
 rnuch above the covnmcn Rank. Heufed 
 to be very feldom idle, but aîways in Aéli- 
 o liyely and brisk, and fhew a great deal 
 ' of eagernefs to be inltruéled in aii Matters 
 of Moment,- efpecially. in what had any re- 
 lation to the Manners and Cuiloms of fo~ 
 reign Nations. He was fcarce fifteen years 
 of Age, when he applied himfeif to the 
 Study of the Mathematicks, his Inclinations 
 tending. more particuîarly to Navigation, 
 and other Meciur.ick Arts, vvh.ich he look’d 
 i.pOft as the malt Liftcumental, to promore 
 thefe Great Defigns, ho lias iînee put in 
 execution with a me il fl étendions Con- 
 duit and Prudence. - in 
 
I o The prefent Condition 
 
 In the laffc War betwixt tbe Turks, tire 
 Emperour, Poland and Venice, the Czar was 
 Engaged in a War againft the Chinefes , 
 who being, as it was fuppofed, encouraged 
 by Tome Miffionaries, had upon very frivo- 
 Ious Pretences attack’d the Mufcovites ; but 
 thzCzar being refolved not to let flip io favou- 
 rable an opportunity to a£t againil the Ot- 
 tomans, in conjunâion with the befbremen- 
 tioned Chriftian Princes, he chofe rather to 
 abate fomething of his Pre rendons to procure 
 a lafting Peace betwixt him and the Chi- 
 nejes L He had alfo ail the Reafon imagi- 
 nable to promife himfelf a happy iffue of 
 this War on his fide, the Turks being at 
 that time by their ill Succefs, and the ma- 
 hy Battels they had in Hrngary -, redu- 
 fced to fo low a condition, that they were 
 hot in a çapacity to make any confidera- 
 ble refiftance ; and he looIFd upon the Con- 
 qoeft of Jfoph as a thing of fo much con- 
 fequence to the Mujcov'tte Empire, that it 
 ought to bé attempted at any rate, efpeci- 
 ally fince the Fortifications of that place 
 were in fo different a Conditiôn, as to give 
 him no fmall hopes of fucceeding in this 
 pnterprize ■ 
 
 ‘ Befides tins, the Cc^r was induced by ano- 
 ther motive,which as it was nearer home,fo he 
 fpok’d upon it as the tnoft prefltng in relation 
 ta his ownPerfon. Hehad agyetin frefhme- 
 mory the rebellions inclinations of hisGuards 
 the Strelkz.es and did hot queftion, but that by 
 thisWar he fiaouid findmeans to rid himfelf of 
 them, or at lçaft co* reprefs their Infolence, 
 f?y augmenring the number of foreign O f- 
 
 fieers, 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 1 1 
 
 ficers, well qualified and exercifed in the 
 Military Art,whofe Fortunes depending abfc- 
 lutely on him, he might intirely be afi'urcd 
 of their Service and Fidelity. Accordingly it 
 Was refol ved tomake confiderablenewLevies 
 to be commanded by foreignOfficers whofe 
 number was augmented to eight thoufand ; 
 
 "snd theTroops under their Command bqing 
 in fome time after, brought by their care 
 under a very reguiar Difcpline in the 
 year 1695. The City of Jfoph and Ka- 
 fikermçen were both befieged the famé time, 
 to render the relief of Afoph the more diffi- 
 cult to the Enemy, this being the place 
 Chiefly aimed at by the Mufcovîtes. 
 
 Our Geographers dô molb commonly fix 
 the fcituation of Afoph to the Noith of the Ri- 
 ver Tamis on the fi de of the Crim Tartary , 
 whereas its true fcituation is to the South , on 
 thefideof Cÿrcaflîa , upona rifingground ve- 
 ry near the Palm Mætis . Neither is this 
 City builtupon an Ifland, as it is reprefented 
 in fome Maps, neither are any other Iflands 
 to be feen thereabouts, either near the 
 mouth of the River, or in tha Palm Mæt‘is 
 if felf, as it is likewife exprefled in thefe 
 Maps, unlefs it be one very fmall Ifie 
 which lies at the very mouth of the River 
 Tamis ( now a-days called the Don ) to- 
 wards the North-weft, very near the 
 Coaft. 
 
 About two Leagues above this Fortrefs, 
 the River Tanais emits a branch which 
 i;uns towards the North, iq the form of 
 ' % 
 
2 T he prejent Condition 
 
 a Semy-circle before it enfers the Palus 
 Mxtis, but it is both very narrovv and fiial- 
 low. A good way, beyond this, a little above 
 the Town, ifl'ues foith another Branch, 
 which ruuning likewife to the North in 
 the form, appvoaching to a Semy-circle, 
 divides it feïf into five other Branches, juft 
 before it difembogues into the Sea. But 
 this Branch is alfo of a very ilender depth, 
 and the Ground thereabouts, through which 
 thofe feveral Channels pàfs, very Jow 
 and Marfhy, fo, that at high Water when 
 the VYind blows ftrong from the South, 
 which drives the Waters from the black 
 Sea, upon that Coait, ail the Counrry here- 
 abouts lies under Water. 
 
 You vvill, I fuppofe, be not a iittle fur- 
 prifed, when I tell you, that the Mufco- 
 i he s in their Maps pue Afoph under the 
 47 th degree of Northern Latitude, and fo 
 do likewife the Tterhs ; whereas in our 
 Maps we find it under the 5: 1 degree, ôr 
 thereabouts. But, what deferves our par- 
 ticular obfervation is, Tirât our Maps a~ 
 gree exaélly with theirs in the feituation 
 of that part of the Gountry where the Ta- 
 oc Don, approaches neareft to the River 
 Wolga, which both they and we put under 
 rhe 49 m Degree., I can cnlv -thus much 
 nifuve you, r that .the Afufcavhcs, who are 
 generailv taken for very ignorant and impo- 
 li ih’d , hâve compofed the moft exaftelh 
 Maps of their own Counrry in tha World, ! 
 >-ving feen : ’rne of thero my feïf; and that 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . i 
 
 they exclaim againft ours, asvery imper- 
 fecî: in this point. 
 
 The City of Jfcph was formerly no more 
 than a fmali Place, fortifiai only with 
 one fingle Wall, after a very irregular 
 manner -, ks Form approachïng to a Hexa- 
 gon, two of its opp.oiitelîdes lyingnear pa- 
 ralleLwith the River, furr-ounded with ma- 
 ny.Towers, after the ancient Fafhion. A- 
 boùt the middle of that fide which is oppo- 
 i’ite. to the fVeft, there was a very large 
 Tower of a confiderable heighth, round at 
 the bottom, running up Iike a Pyramid, but 
 Hat on the top within the body of the 
 Place there was another Retrenchment , 
 which fupplied the place of a Cittadel, and 
 wasp ovided always with a good Garrifon. 
 The Turks afterwards fun ounded the whole 
 with new Fortifications of Earth, compos’d 
 of our large and high Battions, but not very 
 regular, ; yetis the Qitçh both very broad and 
 deep.Tvvo of thefe Battions towards th tSotsth- 
 Eafl Sidelie pretty clofe to one another, 
 for the better defence of the Place, in rç- ‘ 
 fpek of the nearnefs of feveral Hills, which 
 elfe would command the Town. The third 
 Bail on to the Soath-Wifi, is at a great dk 
 Rance from the other two, and the fbiuth 
 Baftion t wards the Weft is yet further di- 
 sant fiom the third. The Courtin betwixt 
 ’ thefe two lait Battions fias in the midil aja 
 Gbttife Angle ; thelike has alfo the Courtin 
 towards the Eafl, which ru ns down to thè 
 River ; and on the River fide it is very 
 wçil provided with ftrong Paliifadoes.. , 
 Beficües 
 
The prejent Condition 
 
 Befides this,they had built a Iittle above thé 
 Place two ftrong Towers of brick-work,and 
 of a quadrangufar figure; one on each fide 
 of the River, provided with good flore of 
 Cannon, by which means, and a very ftrong 
 Chain, they prevented the Donaic\ Cofacks 
 from paffing that way to the black Sea, who 
 formerly ufed to take the advantage of the 
 darknefs of the Night, when they went a 
 Pyrating upon the Turks. Tins was the 
 condition of Afoÿh, when the AEufcovites 
 firft laid (iege to ît, in the Ÿear 1695. 
 
 . It may weil feem ftrange, that the Turks 
 fliould either fo Iittle underfland the ad- 
 yantage of the Scituacion of tins Important 
 Place, or elfe befo négligent in providingfbr 
 :ts Security, as not to take away ail Hopes 
 from the ATifiovites of fucceeding in this 
 Enterprife, In my Opinion, it was noc 
 only their highefl Intereft to hâve fecured 
 â Place of fo mu ch Confequence againft 
 any A’ttempt of this nature, by rendring it 
 impregnabîe, but aîfo to hâve as much as 
 poüibly they could, extend' their Conquefls 
 on that fide, by making themfelves Mafters 
 of the Country betwixt the Rivets Bon 
 and Wolga, , which thereabonts approach 
 within feven Leagues diftance to one ano- 
 ther. Befides which, there are two other, 
 Rivers betwixt .the Don and the TVolga, one 
 of which cotning 'from the Nortb Eaft, 
 is pretty large, and difcharges it feif into 
 the River Don. The other much leffer, Co- 
 rning from the South tVeft, difembogues into' 
 th tfVolga. Thefe two Rivers carry. their 
 Currents 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire j 
 
 Currents within one League and an half 
 diftance. Thefe two Ri vers, are invifible 
 in our Maps, in lieu of which they hâve 
 obtruded upon us a fuppofitious River, called 
 Camus, which is not to be found therea- 
 bouts. The Ground betwixc thefe *|wo 
 Rivers is very convenient for Building of 
 Foirts and Fortifications, there being buta 
 few fmall Rocks, which may be made 
 paflable , and convenient enough for fuch 
 an Undertaking. 
 
 The Turks fhewed thernfelves but indiffè- 
 rent Politicians, and who had but a flerder 
 infight in matters of this nature, when 
 they let flip fo favourable an Opportunity 
 cf extending their Conquefts on that fids 
 during the Inteftine Troubles, \\hich har- 
 rafl'ed , and almoft deftif>yed the Muf- 
 covite Empire in. our <Æge , at the faîne 
 time that the Ottomans were in a moft fiou- 
 rifhing Condition. If they at that time had 
 joined thefe twt? Rivers by a Canal, and 
 ftrengthened- the famé with fome Forts > or 
 if they had built but one confiderable Fortrefs 
 •upon the River V/olga, the whole Kingdom 
 of Aftracan muftof neceffity hâve fall n into 
 their Hands, by which means it would hâve 
 been no difficult task for them to rentier 
 thernfelves Mafters of the Cafpian Lake, or 
 Sea, which is the Inlett into the Heart of 
 Per fia , and at no great diftance from the 
 Iridiés , Subjeét to tire Great Mogul , and for 
 the reft it is furrounded by a great numfcer of 
 Petty Tartarian Princes , who might either 
 hâve been eafrly Conquered , or at leaft 
 brouglrt 
 
Tktprefent Condition 
 
 brougÜt over to their Faity to rnake 
 them inftrumental in the Conquell of 
 Ajia, YYhat would in fuch a Café hâve 
 become of the Afufcovites , who would 
 îiave been continually allarm’d , and 
 harraJÎed on ail fides by an infinité 
 humber of Tartars , by thofe of the Cri- 
 me a y of Circa.fi a, Bulgaria , by the Calmucf 
 and Mognl Tartars , who like a Torrent 
 would hâve over-run this valî: Empire, and 
 would hâve rendred the Conqüeft of ail thé 
 Circumjacent Cduntries as cheap and ea/ie 
 to the Turks, as tliefe Vagabonds formerîy 
 did, when they took up Arm-s under thofe 
 Renownd Heroes, Ginghis Khan, and Ta- 
 rn ur Lene\. 
 
 There are two things which pre- 
 vented the Turl# fromjnaking ufe ofthat 
 çritical Jun&ure tQ their Advantage. The 
 drft w as, that they look cl upon the Muf- 
 c ointe s as too .inconfîderable to ftand ever 
 in Compétition with them, feeihg they had 
 not Courage enough to accept of tire For- 
 trefs of Afoph from the Cofac^, who lud 
 taken it by Surprife. The fécond was. That 
 they were not fo fully fatisfied of the 
 Confequence and ufe of a good' Naval 
 Strength , by which rneans they might 
 moft conveniently hâve enlarged their 
 Dominions on that lide, and carried the 
 térror of their Arms not only along the 
 fVolga, but alfo by the way of the Cafpian 
 Sea into the very heart of AJïa. 
 
 But to return to the Siçge of A- 
 
of the Mufcovke Empire . 
 
 The Turks had provided the City of 
 Afofh with great Stores of Ammunition 
 and Provifion, and ail other things ne- 
 ceflary for^ a long and vigorous Defence, 
 the Garrifon confifting of ten Thoufand 
 chofen Turks and Tartars ; notwithftanding 
 which, the prefent Czar Peter Alexiovitz 
 refolved to befiege it in Perfon. Ris Ar- 
 my confifted of one Httndred Thoufand 
 Foot , and twenty Thoufand Horfe, ail 
 chofen Troops , and among them the 
 whole Body of his Guards, or Strelitz.es 
 commanded nnder the Czar, by a great 
 many good and Expérienced Générais. 
 
 Whiïft they were bufy in perfecling the 
 Lines of Circnravallation, and Contra valla- 
 tion,and canying on the Trençhes,the Czar 
 Ordered a fraali Fort of four Battions to be 
 made at fome diftance above the two a- 
 bovementioned brick Towers on the South 
 fide of the River, upon a piece of Ground 
 that lies betwixt, and js encompafled by 
 two fraali branches which fpring out of 
 that River, and re-unite themfelves about 
 half ways diftance betwixt thefe Towers 
 and the City. Ail the Communication 
 being 'cut oft' betwixt the Place and the 
 Towers by thefe two branches, it was 
 not long before the Afufcovites made them- 
 felves Mafters of them, and it being judg- 
 ed moft expédient to Fortifie that, on the 
 South fide of the River, it was immediately 
 put in Execution accordingly, by furround- 
 ing it with three good Battions , and an 
 Angle on each of the Courtins on thé 
 G River 
 
ï 8 Theprefent Condition 
 
 River fide. The Fort was called Caïanfa. 
 
 In the mean while the Trenches were 
 carried on with the utmoft Expédition and 
 Vigour, efpecially on the Soutn Eaft fide of 
 the Place, where the Mufcovites being a d- 
 vanced to the top of the Hills, which in 
 loine meafure command the Tovvn, they 
 Fired moll furioulîy ont of their Camion, 
 and threw a prodigious nutnber of 
 Bombs mto the Place , by which raeans 
 they hop’d foon to terrifie the Garrifon to 
 corne to a Capitulation ; but thofe within 
 confifting of old and well Difciplhfid- 
 Trcops, who were not to be vanquifh'd at 
 a diftance, the. Trenches were carried on to 
 the body of the Place, but not without 
 great Slaughter on the Mufcovite fide ; the 
 Ènemies by their frequent and vigorous 
 Sallies difputing every Inch of Ground 
 with the utmoft bravery. The Jkfufcovites 
 were likewife couragioufly repulfed in fe- 
 veral Attacks before they could lodge them- 
 felves upon one of the baftions, where the 
 Garrifon, like defperate Men, fell upon 
 them with fuch an incredible Fury , that 
 the Ruffians after a moft obftinate Defence, 
 were forced to'quit it at laft, with the lofs 
 of a great number of their Men, efpecially 
 of the Srrelitzes , who, as they were moft 
 eXpofed, fo they bore moft commonly the 
 greateft Share in the lofs, the Czar making 
 ufeof this Opportunity, both to try their 
 Valour, and rid his Hands of them in a 
 handfome way ; though at the, famé time 
 it muft be confeis'd to his Immortal Glory, 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 
 
 that he was not Iparing of his own Per- 
 fon,but expofed himfelf to the Enemies 
 Fire as well in the feveral Aftacks 
 that were made, as upon other occafions , 
 having had feveral Perfons llain by his fîde 
 in the Sallies made by the Belîeged.The in- 
 vincible Refolution of the Garrifon thus 
 protra&ing the Siégé beyond ail Expecta- 
 tion, the Mufcovites began to be in want 
 both of Ammunition and Pro vidons, which, 
 together with the approaching cold and 
 wet Sealon, obliged them to change the 
 Siégé into a Blockade. 
 
 But the Difgrace received before Afcçh, 
 was in fome meafure recompenfed by the' 
 Conqueft of Kafîker meen, a l'art ar Un City 
 Scitaated on the South iide of the River 
 Borifihenes , about two Leagues diftance 
 from the Black.- Se a. 
 
 Itis encompaflfed by four ftrong brick 
 Forts of a quadrangular Figure, and an e- 
 qual bigneis, adjoining to one another. 
 Threeof them lye upon a lirait Line, but 
 the Fourth makes up a right Angle with 
 the Second. The firft of thefe Quadrangu- 
 lar Forts lies upon the very Bank of the 
 River Borifihenes , being Flancked with 
 feveral good Towers as well as the two o- 
 thers, which are upon the famé Line. But 
 the fourth exceeds the three others in 
 Strength, being on one fide provided, in- 
 ftead of Towers, with two large, and high 
 Baftions, furrounded with a good Ditch. 
 
 Juft oppofite to the place y ou fée a 
 fmall Ilia nd in the. River Boriflhenes y re-. 
 
 C 2 fembling 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 fembling in form, a Neats Tongue, called 
 in their Language Towan. Upon this IHand 
 the Tort-ors had ere&ed two Forts of four 
 Battions ^ach, which on the upper end of 
 thelliand was called Momberethkerrr.een ; 
 as the other on the lower part was named 
 Muftritkermeen ; on the oppofite lide of the 
 River belonging to the Crlm Tartars , there 
 was alfo another Fort in ail refpetts iike to t 
 the other two, juft over againtt Mombet- 
 rethkermeen , upon the Bank of the before- 
 mentidned River Borifihenes. 
 
 The Army of his Cz,arijh Majetty was 
 chiefly composé of Cçjfacks , inhabiting 
 thofe parts, and who Corne years before had 
 fubmitted to the Czar s Obedience. To 
 facilitate the Siégé of Kajihermeen , it was 
 refol v’d to Attack firft the faid Forts, which 
 being done, accordingly they were foon ta- 
 ken by the brave Cojfacks who immé- 
 diat ely after laid Siégé to the Place it 
 felf. _ 
 
 The train Attack was carried on againtt 
 the Fort vvith the two battions, the Ground 
 thereabouts being moft proper for the car- 
 rying on of the Trenches, which were ad- 
 vanc’d with fo much Expédition, that in 
 a fhort time they carried it by Alfault. The 
 Enemies however got time to retreat into 
 the other Forts,, where having beat a Far- 
 ley, it was agreed that they (hould March 
 out of the Place with their Arrrs and Bag- 
 gage, &c. 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 
 
 The Mufcovite Army on that lide was 
 commanded by the General Cu.eremetoff, 
 who having contrary to the Capitulation, 
 connivedat forae diforders committed by 
 the Ccfacks againft the Garrifon ; his Ciartjh 
 Majefty was Fo tnuch diflatisfied at it, that 
 he fhewed his Refentmenc in very hard 
 Ternis to the General. He, who did not 
 expect füch a Reprimand, deiîred thereup- 
 on leave front the Czar to lay down his 
 Commithon, which being readiiy granted 
 him likewife beyond his expectation,he,after- 
 vvârds repented atleifure.The better to divert 
 himfelf in this Melancholly Difpofition, he 
 refolved to Travel in Forreign Countries , 
 and you are not ignorant, how he viiît- 
 ed moil of the Courts of Italj, and had the 
 Cuviofity to go to the Ille of Malth* , 
 where , as well as in ail other Pla- 
 ces, thro’ which heTravelîed, he was re- 
 ceiv’d with ail imaginable Refpecl due to 
 his Birth and Merits. 
 
 The fucceeding Winter was chiefty ta- 
 ken up with vaft Préparations for the next 
 enfuing Campaign, which being to be o- 
 pen d with the Siégé of dfopb, great ftores 
 oi Ammunicion, Bombs, and Provifions 
 were got in readinefs for that Enterprife 
 to prevent the Turks fiom fending any 
 ReliefbySea; many Gallies and Brigan- 
 tines were order d to be built near theCity of 
 Affcowf'M efpecially at Veranowitz., a City 
 Scituate on the River Do;2,about a Hundred 
 Leagu%s diftant from the Capital City. But 
 what is moft rema'kable is that the CW Pc. 
 
 C 3 ter 
 
The prejenî Condition 
 
 ter haying a particular curie fi ty to be pre- 
 fentat the building of fomeof the biggeft 
 Gallies, he câufed them to be fet upon the 
 Stock, in the River Ocea, at fome fmall 
 diftance fiom the City of Mufcore, they 
 being from thence to be Tranfported to 
 Ver ano witz. by Land, were fo artifici- 
 ally contrived, that they might be taken 
 to pièces without mu ch trouble, and lobe 
 joined together again at Verawmitz. 
 
 To be fhort, by the great Vigilancy of 
 his Czarijh Majelty, ail things were got 
 jn fuch forwardneis, that there was no- 
 thing wanting to put the proje&ed Defign 
 in Execution. 
 
 . J Tis to be obferv’d that the City of slfoph 
 had been kept block’d up during the 
 whole Wintèr, and that the Mufcovîtes 
 having maintain'd their Poil ail this whiie 
 upon the abovementioned Hills, which o- 
 yerlook the Place, they had been fo In- 
 duftrious in guàrding ali the Avenues, that 
 the Befieged had not receiv'd the lealt Sup- 
 ply of Men, or Provifions. To eut ofT ali 
 further hopes of Succpurs, it was refolved 
 to open the Campaign very early in the 
 Spring, for wliich purpofe ali the Troops 
 defign d for this Expédition, were order'ci 
 to March to their Rendezvous, and from 
 thence lirait tp the Siégé of vîfoph, which 
 was begun by -throiwng a moll prodigions 
 q nanti ty of Bombs into the place, with 
 fuch extraordinary Succefs, that the whole 
 Body of the City was reduced to Ai hes, 
 and R.ubbi|h, and the old Fortifications to 
 
qfthç Afufcovite Empire . 
 
 one large Stone heap, fo that there was 
 fcarce a place left for the Garrifon to fihel- 
 ter themielves againft the fury of the Ene- 
 mies Cannon and Bombs, ail being de- 
 ftroyed even to the deepeft Vaults and 
 Caves. 
 
 Befides which, the Number of the be- 
 fieged was reduced to lefs than two thou- 
 fand Men capable of bearing of Arms , 
 both by the furious Attacks made upon 
 the place in the lad years Siégé,, and the 
 continuai firing frora the Mxfcovïtes Great 
 Artillery, and throwing in of Bombs ; in 
 this ; notwithftandlng which, they were 
 deaf to any propofals of a futrender, 
 Iiving in hopes of the promifed Succours. 
 
 At lad it appeared, to their great Joy 
 and Satisfaction, confiding of twelve Gal- 
 bes, a great number of Saiques laden with 
 Provifions and Ammunition, and a good 
 number of frefh Troops, befides fifty thou- 
 fand Ducats, to be didributed among thofe 
 brave Fellows that had fo Valiantly de- 
 fended their Pod. 
 
 His Cz.arijh Majedy having before-hand 
 received Intelligence of the approach of 
 this Succours, had caufed feven of his 
 largefl Galiies, of a hundred foot length 
 each, befides lèverai lefler, and a great 
 number of Brigantines to pafs that lmall 
 branch of the Don, which iffues forth a lit- 
 tle above the Town As the Water is ve- 
 ry fhallow in this Channel, fo it was not 
 without a great deal of ditficulty, that the 
 Jargeft Galiies couid be brought along that 
 C 4 way, 
 
The prejènt Condition 
 
 way, and would in ail likelihood hâve 
 ffcarce fucceeded, if the Czar by his Pre- 
 x ence and Encouragement had nôt anima- 
 r ed the Worktnen to furpafs ail Difficulties, 
 which at laft they did, to the no final! A- 
 ftonifhment of the befieged. 
 
 This Obitacle being happily furmounted, 
 his Czarilh. Ma jefty judged it of very great 
 confequence for his purpofe to plant gcod 
 Store of Cannon upon the little Mand we 
 hâve mentioned before, becaufe the Shoar 
 being very îow, the Cannon-bail would 
 ltrike' even with the furta ce of the Water ; 
 befides, that the greateft part of- the Ille 
 being covered with Wood, did prevent the 
 Enemy from difcovering the Defign. 
 
 The famé favourable difpoiition of this 
 Mand, furnifhed the Mxfeovites with t n 
 Opportunity of putting fome of their 
 lightelt Gallies and Brigantines for a Re- 
 ferve, behind the Me, unperceivki by thje 
 Enemy, whom they intended thus to at- 
 tack both in Front and Flank, as they paf- 
 fed by that way, which fucceeded accord- 
 ing - to Expeftatiou. 
 
 For, ail thefe Précautions having been 
 taken beforé the Enemies Fieet came in 
 fi glu, fome of the biggeiF Mufeovite- Gal- 
 bes, with many Brigantines were fent out 
 to meet them, making a Show, as if they 
 intended to Engage the Txrkjjb Fieet ; 
 but no fooner were they corne within Can- 
 non 'Shot of one another, but the Afufco- 
 ’vitcs feigning to dread the Ottoman Fieet, 
 fnperior in Number to them, made a run- 
 
 ning 
 
of the Mufco vite Empire . 2 5 
 
 ningFight, making the beft of their way 
 towavds the Shoar, and ported themfelves 
 below the Ifl. nd. The Turks perceiving 
 the Eneray to fly before them, and nor in 
 the leaft forewarn’d of the reft that laid 
 behind the Ifland, thought themfelves, by 
 the Imall number of the Mufcovîte Gal- 
 bes, that appear’d in fight, aftur'd of the 
 Viftory. 
 
 Fluftfd with thefe hopes, they made ail 
 the Sail they could to falL in among the 
 Mu f cavité s, but no fooner were they corne 
 within reach of the Cànr.on frem the Ifle, 
 but they reçeiv d fuch a warm Salute frein 
 thence, that they faw their Gallies torn to 
 pièces on ail fides by the Enemies.Cannon, 
 in an inftant, with a great Slaughter of 
 many of their Men. But this was 
 oniy the fore-runner of what was to 
 enfue. 
 
 For his Cz.arijh Majefty, who had a 
 watçhful eye oh ail fi des, and who was 
 fometimes upon the lile, fometimes on 
 board the Fleet of Relerve, that lay be- 
 hind, having foon obferved the Con lier na- 
 ' tion the Turks were put in by this un-x- 
 peéled Salute, ai.d wiiling to nnprove their 
 Confulion to his Advantage, got on board 
 in Perfon one of the lighteft Gallies, Man’d 
 cnly with forcy Men, -giving the Signal 
 for the reffc to follow him with ail the üars 
 they could. Thus the Enemy Tbund them- 
 feives furvounded on ail fides by the Mujcq- 
 vîtes attack'd them with great bravery ; 
 the Cz,ar himfelf boarding the Turkijb Ad- « 
 
 mirai* \ 
 
2 6 The prefent Condition 
 
 miral,and being fuccefsfully, feconded by 
 the reft, the Viétory was almoft as foon 
 compîeatêd asbegun,the Tur\s being routed 
 Fo entirely, that not one Gally efcaped, 
 but whaÊ'was either funk or taken ; and it 
 muft be confefs’d, That the Cz^vr fhew’d 
 fo much Conducl during the whole Aélion, 
 that no more could hâve been expeéled 
 ft'om the Prudence and Valour of the great- 
 dl Capfain of ont time. 
 
 So compleat a Viftory Foon decided the 
 Deftiny of Slfopb, for the Garrifon, who 
 had beën Spe&atôrs of their Lofs, being 
 siow bereav'd of ail Hopes of Succours, 
 demanded a capitulation. In confideration 
 very honourable of their bravëry, tliey had 
 Conditions granted them, it being com- 
 p.ehended in one of the Articles, that be- 
 lote their marching on t of the Place, they 
 fhould Furrender to the A4ufcovites a cer- 
 tain O fficer, who had deferted his ( zœrijh 
 Majeftys Service, and difeovered what 
 lie knew concerning his Defigns to the 
 Eiiemy. The C^.ar to recompence the 
 Sea-Officers and others oii board his Fleet 
 for their laft Service , and to give them 
 fome marks of his Liberality , orderecl 
 the Fifry Thon (and Ducats, taken 
 on board the Turkijh Admirai, to be 
 diftrjbuted among them. 
 
 Atfbpb was no fooner furrendred, but 
 rhe Cz,ar made it appear to ail the World, 
 that he was fufficiently fenfible of what 
 COnfequence the Conqueft of this Place 
 v.-vr to his Affairs For, the firft thing he 
 
 did. 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 
 
 did, was to give his Orders for the refto- 
 ring the Fortifications, and bringing them 
 with ali potfible Speed, to a ftate x>f De- 
 fence ; and not content with this, he 
 caufed the- Ancient Walls witliin the For- 
 tifications , for the raoft part ruin’d by 
 the Boriïbs, to be entirely rafed , and in 
 lieu therecf, the Foundation was laid of 
 a nevy City, to extend to the Fortifica- 
 tions made of Earth. 
 
 Thefe were likewife confiderably aug- 
 mented by the Addition of two .new 
 Battions in the famé places where we 
 mentioned before the two obtufe Angles 
 to hâve been. Ail the ancient Battions 
 were enlarged, and made regular, accor- 
 ding to our modem Rules of Fortification; 
 each of them being ftrengthened by a 
 Half-Moon. The Ditch was defended by 
 a good Counterfcarp , with a cover ’d 
 way , from whence was carried a Line 
 up to the top of the Hill , which over- 
 looks the Town, where a goodly Fort 
 was erected for the Defence of the Line, 
 and to keep a Communication with the 
 Place. 
 
 Ail thefe Précautions, though very con- 
 iiderable in themfelves, yet were thought 
 infufKcient in refpeÆt of the AccompliiGb.- 
 ment of his Czjvrijh Majefty’s Defign, who 
 was refolv’d to render Afcph impregnable, 
 as being the main Frontier place on that 
 fide of th'e Empire. Purfuant to this 
 Defign, the Foundation was laid of a new 
 Fortrefs, juft oppofite to Jfop , in the marfhy 
 Grounds, 
 
2 B T he prefent Condition 
 
 Grounds, which was.to hâve a Communi- 
 - cation with that City by a bridge of thir- 
 ty Arches to be buiit over the Marihes. 
 This Defign, of which I hâve feen the 
 Model, was foon - put in Execution , the 
 City which was to be put in the Cencer of 
 the place being called St. Peter. 
 
 The whole Body of the Fortifications 
 confified of fix Battions, the two fi rit 
 facing the River ftde , with a Half-Moon 
 betwixt them._ The o tirer two Battions 
 lying on each.llde are at a finall diltance 
 front the ochers ; but the two oppofire to 
 the Northj lye at a mueh greater dillance, 
 defended by three Haff-Moons. The 
 wliole is furrounded with a double Dkch, 
 and a cover ’d way. The Giound upon 
 which this Fortrefs was bliilr, is raifed to 
 that heighth, as to comtnand Jifcph , and 
 when the Wind blows front the South , 
 the Marches round about the Fortrefs are 
 ail under Water, fo that theve is but one 
 Way to approach it , to wic, by the Bridge, 
 
 Thefe Fortifications. vvould hâve been 
 more than fufficient, if His Majetty had 
 had no other defign than to defend hisFion-. 
 tiers,to Radie the rim Tartars - and to keep 
 t he. neighbour i n . , Ccf teks inhabiting theCoun 
 try,near the Dor,, in awe, but rnis Monarch 
 had mattersof greater Confequcnce in view, 
 which he knevv would ni a little time 
 redound to the great benefic of the Em- 
 pire. Flis defign was to make ufe of this 
 place to ferve for the convcniency of carry- 
 xng down the River the C:ur> modifies of 
 
 the 
 
of the Mufco vite Empire. 2 9 
 
 the produit of Mufcovy into the Palus 
 Afaotis , and to tranfport them by the 
 way • of 3 Gaffa, and Confiant inople into 
 
 Italy. 
 
 He wifely forefaw that by this means he 
 rnight introduce, and fettle Navigation in 
 his Dominions, to the great encreâfé of the 
 Wealth of his Subje&s , who thereby 
 would be ufed to the Sea, fo that in time 
 they might render themfelves redoubtabie . 
 to their Enemies. But to bting this great 
 and noble Defign to Perfection, it was ab- 
 folutely neceîfavy to put the Mufccvite 
 Fleet into fuch a Condition, as to be able 
 to coop with the Turks in the Black^Sea , and 
 to render themfelves fo formidable, that 
 the Enemies might be obliged at the next 
 Peace to allow them a free Commerce, and 
 the Liberty of their Ports upon thofe 
 Coafts, and of Confiantinople it felf. 
 
 By the reftoring , and ilrengthning the 
 Fortifications of Âfcpb , and laying the 
 Foundation of the new Fort/efs of St. 
 
 Peter , the prefent Czar had in view three 
 great Points, each of which,as it tended to 
 the great benefit of the Empire, fo it was 
 fufficient to Eternalize his Memory. 
 
 The firft was the making of a conveni- 
 ent and fafe Harbour, capable 10 contain 
 a great Fieet. 
 
 The fécond, the joining of the^ two Ri- 
 vers, the fVolga, and Don, by a Canal, fit 
 to carry Ships of a great bulk. 
 
 And Laftly, the building, and equipping 
 of fourfcore Men of War, as well Frigats 
 
 as 
 
3 o The prefent Condition 
 
 as Gallies, with a hundred and fifry Brigan- 
 tines ,to make Head againft the Turks ,where- 
 < ever they jfhould attempt to difpute with 
 him fhe free Commerce at Sea. 
 
 It was found quite impraticable to ren- 
 àcxAfopbà good Port ; for, tho’ the Ri- 
 ver Bon is the moft proper in the World 
 for Shipping betwixt Veranorvitz, and Afcph, 
 as being very deep, without any Illands, 
 and its Current very fmooth , being not 
 interrupted by any Sands ;* but the Mouth 
 of this River is fo full of Shelves , and 
 choak’d up with Sands, that at Ebb-Tide 
 there is not above feven Foot Water, fo 
 that thofe Geographers who hâve defcrib'd 
 us the Entrance of this River as very con- 
 venient, and one of the moft famous Ports, 
 hâve impofed their own Inventions upon 
 the World for Trnth. 
 
 It was for this reafon His Czarijh Majefty 
 ordered the Côaft thereabouts to be found- 
 ed, being willing to find out a convenient 
 Place to make a Port of, as near as poffi- 
 bly could be to the City of Afofh. When 
 the Turks formerly ufed to fend any Ships 
 of a confiderable burthen to that Town, 
 they were obliged to unload near the En- 
 trance of the River Mious, in the Crim 
 Tariary , about five and twenty Leagues 
 diftance from Afopb, where at Low Water, 
 it is at lealt fifteen or (îxteen Foot 
 deep. 
 
 The Aîiifcovites founding along the famé 
 Coaft, came to a certain Cape at about feven 
 ?Jeagues diftance from the Bon , where, at 
 
of ^Mufcovke Empire 
 
 an Ebb Tide there was twelve Foot Wateiv 
 The Coart was hereabouts very high, and 
 tteep, the Ground Sandy, but fo hard, 
 that it refembied both in Subttance and 
 Hardnefs a Free-Stor.e. To the Eafi of the 
 Cape there was a fmall Bay, and at about 
 a Leagues diftance from thence to the 
 Wefl, there was a fmall River, whofeGur- 
 rentturn’d in form of a Hal(-Moon,i\mnd 
 that Point ot the Land. The Shoar 
 from the bay was of an eafie Afcent. 
 
 The Cz.ar having been exa&ly informed 
 concerning the convenient Scituationof this 
 Place, order’d a Fort of Five battions to 
 be ereéled, and a City to be built fome- 
 whatbelow.it, likewife defênded by a good 
 Fortihcation, betwixt which and the Bay 
 fnere was a Plain, th'rough which was to 
 be eut the great Channei, which was to 
 diflembogue near the Point of the Land, 
 into the Sea ; and in the midtt of this, 
 there vvas to ilTue another lefs Channei 
 towards the Bay, for the conveniency of 
 Velïels of lefs burthen. I hâve feen the 
 Model of the vvhole Defign. The Port 
 is to be Three Thoufand Seven Hundred- 
 and Fifty Fcot long , and half as 
 brôad. 
 
 Concerning the Conjunétion of the 
 Rivers, Wolga and Don, vve hâve already 
 mentioned beforé the advantageous Scitua- 
 cionof tlie Grounds betwixt the tvvo Ri- 
 vets , and the condition of the tvvo leiTer 
 ânes, which corne vvithin a mnch nearer 
 diftance of one another, - fo that the vvhole 
 defign 
 
2 The prefenl Condition 
 
 defign being founded upon very good 
 Grounds, it will fucceed in allPiobability.For 
 it is propofed to flop the Waters of thefe 
 two ieffer Hivers, which are to be join’d 
 in the Grand Canal by many Sluices, to 
 bring them to fuch a heighth as fhall be 
 judged fufficient for the pajfage of Ships of 
 a confiderable burthen ; there are daiiy 
 above tvventy Thoufand Mtn Employed to 
 dig the Giound, befides others vvho are 
 to bring the vvhole to Perfection. 
 
 As to vvhat relates to the third part to 
 wit, his Navy, it muft be confefièd that the 
 Czar made ufe in this Point of ail the fore- 
 fight and Prudence that could be expected 
 from the moll refin’d Politician. For, be- 
 ing immoveable in his Refolution of rid- 
 dmg his Hands of the Strelhz.es , -that ufed 
 to ltand under the Command of the beit 
 of the Ruffian Nobility , he judged rot 
 vvithout Reafon tirât at this Junéture 
 hs could not pitch upen a more feafona- 
 ble and more glorious Expédient than 
 this, to Employ them in the Service of their 
 Gountry, and at the famé time to take 
 away from them ali opportunités of fu- 
 ture Revoîts, Purfiiant to this Refolution, 
 lie iflued his Déclaration, wherein he told 
 tliem that the Prefent State of Affairs be- 
 ing fuch, as requit edth e AJttfccvites to ap- 
 pear formidable at Sea , and he being 
 fully convinced, both of their Valour, and 
 Fideiity, he wifhed nothing more at this 
 time, than to fee them apply themfelves 
 to the Knowledge of Maritime Affairs,- 
 
cftke Mufcovite Empire, 
 
 to qualifie themfelves for the beft Com- 
 mands at Sea, That for this purpofe he 
 'had taker. ali imaginable care toprovide 
 a fufficient number of Sea Officevs, Fa- 
 mous for their Skill in Maritime Aftairs, 
 ànd the managing of Sea Engagements, 
 under whofe Condufl they might be 
 trained up in this Art, and fitted for the 
 higheft Commands. That he being re- 
 foived to try the Foundation of the 
 prefent Glory of the Ruffian Monarchy up- 
 on its Navai Strength, and réndri.ng him- 
 felf redoubtable at Sea, would l:rad them 
 in Perfon, and iliew them by his own Ex- 
 ample what Footfteps to tread in. According- 
 ly it was refolved,_that each Subjebt, propor- 
 tionable to his Ability, (herald contribute to 
 the Equipping, and maintenance of a cer- 
 tain number ofMen ofWar, the chief Ci- 
 tiesof the Empire, being Iikewife obliged to 
 bear a proportion in this Tax, By this. 
 means His Majefty Equipped a gcod Fleet 
 without the leaft impairing his ordinary 
 Revenue, and engaged at t’ne famé time 
 the Ngbility, and chief Men in the Cities 
 to take Cognizance of Maritime Affairs, 
 to render thçmfelves capable of the Sea- 
 Service, which they were to look upon 
 for the future, as the main. and moft du- 
 rable Eftablifhment of the whole Em- 
 pire. 
 
 Thefe lèverai Projets w.ere no‘ fooner 
 fet on foot with the utmoft Expédition, 
 by the moft admirable Vigilancy , and 
 indefatigable Care of the Czar, put towards 
 D Au- 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 Autumn, he fet out on his Jouruey in or- 
 der to his return to the Capital City of 
 Mafcow leaving a great body çf his 
 Troops under the Command of the Gene- 
 ralijfiwo oÇ his Arm i es, the Prince Alekis 
 Simonlmtz Scheift, near Afoph , to co ver 
 the Workmen that were Employed in 
 bringing the Works piojeclcd thereabouts 
 to Perfection. At his Arrivai in the City 
 of ALifcotv, he was received with ail the 
 Demonllrations of Hônour due to a Con- 
 querour, Marching along the Streets to the 
 Caftle in Triumph, with a great many Cha- 
 riots loaden with the Spoils of the Enemy,. 
 and Prifoners, before him. Among the 
 reit was to bè feen the Officer, who having 
 Deferted the Czar's Service,vvas furrende/d 
 to the Afufcovites, purfuant to the Capitu- 
 lation before Afoph -, had his Hands tied 
 behind him, and was foon after Executed, 
 as a Terrour to others. It is paft Expref- 
 fion, with what loudand joyful Acclamati- 
 ons this publick Entry was Solemnized by 
 the People, who flocked thither from ali 
 Parts to adora the Triumph of the Con- 
 quering Prince. Gréât were the Rejoicings 
 that were made that Night ail over the Ci- 
 ty, but the beft was referved till the W in- 
 ter: when a moft Glorious Firework was 
 let off upon the Ice. 
 
 The whole was compofed of feveral Ar- 
 tihcialMachineSjindofed in a double Square, 
 furrounded with Rockets of ail forts and 
 Sizes, which took up a great fpace upôn 
 the Ice. 
 
 His 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 
 
 His Czarijb Majefty tcok a particiilâr 
 Delight to be among the Engineers , and 
 had himfelf a Hand in making the greatèfl 
 Machine, which was erefted iii the very 
 Center of the reft. It was a double Spread 
 Eagle, who with his left Paw darted Roc- 
 kets upon an Horrizontal Line at one of the 
 Horns of a Half-Moon , which fucceeded 
 according to Wifh > the Fireworks conti- 
 fiued ail the Night long, the whole Delign 
 of it being laid by His Majefty himfelf, 
 and drawn with his own Hand, which he 
 did me the Honour to Ihew me in Per- 
 fon. 
 
 Notwithftanding that thé whole Empire 
 feeirfd to takeShare in theGloriousConqueft 
 of their Prince, and that nothing but Feaft- 
 ings, and Rejoicings were to be feen in ail 
 Parts, during the whole Wiriter ; there 
 remained nevértheiefs , a certain dif- 
 contented Party among the Nobility, 
 who being encouraged by the fecret Ca- 
 bals of the Princefs Sopbia , found means, 
 infpightof her Confinement, to keep an 
 underhand ’Correfpondence with her, for 
 the promoting their Deiîgns againft tiré 
 Czar’s Perfon. They were fo well pre- 
 pared for the llndertaking of any Enter- 
 prize of this Nature, that there wanted but 
 little Fuel to kindle the^ Flame ; They 
 could not brook the Lofs of their belo- 
 ved Strelitzes , whom they had always 
 look’d upon as the Chief Supporters 
 ôf their Authority ; which at lait made 
 djfcm conceive fo implacable a Hatred a- 
 D 2 garnit 
 
3 6 
 
 The prefent Condition 
 
 gainft tbe Czar, that they entred into a Con- 
 fpiracy againft his Life. Toput their Deiign 
 in execution, they had brought over to 
 their Party four Captains of the firft Ré- 
 giment of the Strelitz£s ; but the difficulty 
 was, in what manner the Attempt was to 
 be made. For they look’d upon it as im- 
 praticable , to déclaré openly againft a 
 Prince, who, befides that lie was much be- 
 loved by the People, had at his dévotion 
 a good Number of the beft Troops, Com- 
 manded by foreign Officers , who were 
 quartered in and abeut the City of Mufcotv, 
 and ready upon ail Occafions to facrifice 
 their Lives for fdis Majefty. Icwaspro- 
 pofed among them, That the Czar was 
 uled to go (ometimes abroad with very 
 llender Attendance, and to appear in the 
 Streets of Mttfcow without any confidera- 
 ble Retinue ; .this was alfo look'd upon as 
 too dangerous, confidering the general Love 
 the People bore to his Peifon. 
 
 After many Debates, it was at laft re- 
 fol ved, That confidering th'e Czar, who 
 takes fhare in every thing that concerns his 
 Subjets Welfare, was wont to appear in 
 Perion, in café of any Accident of Fire, 
 which frequently happens, and makes a 
 moft terrible Havock in the City of Muf- 
 cow , where moft of the Houfes are of 
 Wood ; they loolfd upon this as the moft 
 pioper Opportunity. to encompafs their 
 Defign ; wherefore it was concluded to fet 
 Fire to fome Houfes in the night-time, 
 when they did not queftion to draw the 
 
 Czar 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 
 
 Czar thither,” and during the Cohfufion, 
 to find means to Aiïaiünate him. The 
 next thing to be done was, (according to 
 their own Confeifion) to hâve ' joyn'd the 
 Donaick Cofacks with their Party, to hâve 
 releafed the Princefs Sophia from her Con- 
 finement, recalfd Prince tVaJJily Galizin o ut 
 of Sibérie, and furrendred the Administra- 
 tion of the Govevernment into their hands, 
 who were alfo to reftore the Strelitz.es to 
 their antient Station. 
 
 But it pleafed Heaven to touch the hearts 
 of tvvo of thefe four Captains , that 
 were Engaged in this Confpiracy ; their 
 Niâmes were Largo» Gtlifarof and Gregory 
 Sileri , who being ftruck with Kemorfe at 
 the penetrating of fo deteftable a Fact, did 
 throw themfelves at His Majefty J s feet, in- 
 genuoufly confefiing their Crimes, and dif- 
 covering their Accomplices, that very day 
 preceding the Niight when this Tragedy was 
 to be aéted. 
 
 It was on the ift day o ï'February, in 
 tlie year 1697, when His Majefty was in- 
 forrn’d concerning this Confpiracy formed 
 againft his Life, at the Houfe 6f General 
 Le Fort , vvhere he happened to dine that 
 Day. He appear’d very little mov\i at 
 fo iurprifing a pieee of News, but, withouc 
 any Change in his Countenance, arofe from 
 the Table, and being foliowed only by a 
 few Perfons, in whom he confided moft, 
 lie went direilly to -the Houfe of the Chief 
 o ~ the Gonfpirators, whofe Name was John 
 Sickler, and elevated by the Czar to the 
 D 3 Digni- 
 
c> 8 The prejhit Condition 
 
 Dignity of a Counceilour of State. When 
 His Majefty came to the Houfe of this wic- 
 ked Wretch, he commanded the reft to 
 remain without doors ; He himfelf entred 
 only with three Gentlemen more, and 
 pretending he had cccafion to askhisAd- 
 vice in fome Matter of Moment, ordered 
 he fhould follow him ; But no foor.er was 
 he corne intô the Street but he was i’eiz'd, 
 and inimediately carried to Prifon, as were 
 likewife five more that were his Accom-? 
 plices in the Confpiracy ; to wit, The Boyar 
 Alexis Se ko min, Fedor Ptfskin, Son of the 
 Boyar, Matfe Puskÿn, two Captains of the 
 Strelitz.es , and a Donaick, Coffack ■ Tliey ail 
 confefs’d their Grimes, and Seing condemn- 
 ed by ail the Boyar s , were executed oq 
 the fifth day of Marcio , in the Year 1697, 
 in the Great Market-place before the Ca- 
 ftle. Firft, their Arms and Legs were eut 
 off, then they had their Heads fevered front 
 their Bodies. Their Heads were fixed on 
 the top of a Stone Coiurrm , ereéted for 
 that purpofe , and their Arms and Legs 
 ftuck upon lion- bars round about it ; 'the 
 Trunks of their dead Carcafi'es were lefc 
 in the Market- place for eight day s afrer, 
 till the Scent becs me fo naufeous to die In- 
 habitants, that- they were forced to be re4 
 mov'd from thence. 
 
 It having by Confeffion of fome of the 
 Confpirators been ftiade apparent, That the 
 Boyar, Ivan Milojlaski was the Chief Head of 
 the Rébellion which hapned in the year 
 îéS2, immediately af ter his prefent Czar- 
 
 ifh 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . ^ p 
 
 Majefty’s Acceflion to the Crown, his Body 
 was difinterr’d, which being found very 
 near intire, without any confidirable decay 
 (tho‘ it had lain under ground nea%twelve 
 Years Jy ) feveral Gibbets were ere&ed, on 
 which were hung the Quarters of his Car- 
 cafs, which were torn to pièces in an in- 
 itance by the enraged Multitude. 
 
 Thefe feveral In-lets contrived and car- 
 lied on againft his Czarilh Majefty’s Per- 
 fon and Life , are fo‘ many inftances, to 
 convince the World, how dangerous it is 
 for a Prince to change the antient form of 
 a Government, it being unqueftiçnable, 
 that thereby he muft needs draw upon 
 himfelf the implacable Hatred of that 
 Pavty, who are SufFerers by that Change. 
 
 But it muft alfo be confefs’d, that no- 
 thing can be more glorious for a Prince, 
 than to promote the publick Welfare, at 
 the péril of his own Life ; which rnay 
 without the leaft Contradi&ion to truth, 
 be applyed to the prefent Czar Peter A- 
 lexiovitz,, who had no other Aim in re- 
 moving the antient eftablifh'd Guards of 
 the Strelitzes , from their Station, than 
 the publick Tranquility ; knowing this 
 arrogant and violent body of Troops, to 
 hâve been the Source of the many Re- 
 volts and Troubles, that hâve haraflèd the 
 Ruffian Empire in our Age. 
 
 His Majefty was gracioufly pleafed to 
 pardon fuch of the Confpirators, as w 7 ere 
 no t fo deeply engaged in the Defign a- 
 ^ainft his Life, being now refolved to 
 D 4 begiq 
 
4-o 
 
 The prejent Condition 
 
 begin his Journey into Germanj. , witli ail 
 imaginable Expédition. It is to be taken 
 Notice of, That this Prince had for a 
 confiderable time before premeditated this 
 Journey, but had only fufpended his Re- 
 iolution till he faw the Succefs of the 
 Siégé of Tlfiph, not queftioning but that 
 he fhould then be for fome time upon 
 the defenfive , till the befbremention- 
 ed Fortifications , and other Works, 
 which he had projected, could be brought 
 tp perfection. 
 
 'He was fufficiently fenfible-, That, con- 
 udering, the prefent State of his Empire 
 was fbunded, upon the ièrvice of hisfo- 
 reign O Prie ers, and a good Naval irrength, 
 vvhereby he miglit appear formidable in 
 the blaclt Sea, nothing could conduce 
 more towards the promoriiig and impro- 
 ving fq great a Defign, than if he fhould 
 go in perfon to vifit fome of the Courts 
 of Europe, and efpecially to make fome 
 confiderable ftay in HolUnd. But, as 
 it was abfoîutdy necefiàry to appear vvith 
 a moll fplendid Equipage and Atten- 
 ' dance, befitting the Greatnef» of fo Po- 
 tenfa Prince, if he Wouid be acknowledg- 
 ed in thefe Parts through winch he^ wàs 
 to pats for the Grand Czar of. Aïufçovy ; | 
 and as he. vvifely -foreifaw that his Rank 
 v. ould not be a great Obftacle to his 
 Defign, which was to fee and penetrate 
 by degrees in i’uch Matters„ as he was 
 defirous to be informed of himfelf, fo 
 he iudged it, moit eonvenienc for his 
 
 pre- 
 
qf the Mufcovite Empire, 4.x 
 
 prelent Purpofe, to go in theQpality of 
 a private Gentleman, under the prote- 
 ction of that moi; folemn Embafîy, which 
 he then refolved to fend, and has fince 
 appear’d with fo much , fplendor in fe- 
 veral Courts of Europe. 
 
 Purfuant to this Refolution, he appoint- 
 ed for his Ambaffadours , My Lord Le 
 Fort , General of His Majelty's Armies, 
 and of the firft Régiments o£ his Guards, 
 Admirai of his Fleet , and Viceroy of 
 Alovogoroi. My Lord Fedor Alexiovitz, 
 
 Goüanin , Viceroy of Siberia , and My 
 Lord Prccofet Bodgnanovitz, WolnitAn , 
 
 Lord high Chancelier of the Empire. 
 
 His Majeftÿ by giving the firft Rank 
 in this EmbalTy to the General Le Fort , 
 gave the moil ample Demonftration that 
 couid be, in what Elleem the fai d Ge- 
 neral vvas with him, in confideration of 
 iris pafs d Great and Signal Services ; 
 and to let the World know, what re- 
 compences he vvas ready to belio w up- 
 on ail (the Foreigners) that delerved wellof 
 him, fince from a fimple Captain, he was 
 mounted in a fhort time, to tire higheft 
 Dignities in the Empire , notwith- 
 llanding the différence of Iris Religion. 
 
 The fécond Anrbaûadour, is likewife 
 a perfon of Great Wifdom, and moft ex- 
 cellent parts, well verfed in publick Né- 
 gociations, having been fent twice by the 
 Czàr as his Ambalfadour Extraordinary 
 into Chiné ; and it vvas he that Cohcluded 
 the lait Peace betwixt Alufcovy and tirât 
 • .. Em- 
 
» The prefent Condition 
 
 Empire. He is in great Efteem with 
 the Grand Czar.. 
 
 The third Ambaffadour has been fre- 
 quently employed with good Succefs iii 
 tnofe Tranfaftions the AAafcovites hâve 
 been engaged in with the Ottoman Port. 
 
 The Czar, before his departure out of 
 Mufcovy, fbund means under a plaufible 
 ptetext, to fend abroad fuch as lay un- 
 der the leaft Sufpicion of raifing any Di- 
 fturbances in his Abfence, It is to be 
 obferved, that for feveral years before the 
 Czar had fent many of his Subjeéts, of 
 ail Sorts and Qualifies, in whom he ob- 
 ferved fouie extraordinary Qualifications, 
 a travelling in foreign Parts at his Char- 
 ges, the botter to inltruft themfelves in 
 feveral Arts and Sciences, and to quali- 
 fie themfelves for the Service of their 
 Country, after their return. He made 
 ufe of the felf-fame pretext to rïd his 
 hands at this time, of thofe whom he 
 lufoeâed to be againft his Intereft, and 
 inclinable to foment any ill Defigns a- 
 gainft him, in his Abfence; For fome of 
 rhem were fent abroad a travelling in 
 far diftant Countvies, before his depat- 
 ture, the others who lay under more Su- 
 fpicion than the reft , were ordered to 
 folio w the Embaffy. 
 
 The Adminiftration of rhe Govern- 
 ment* during his Majefties Abience , was 
 committed to the Gare of the three Prin- 
 ces, fyoff Kerilvit-ü Alariskin , Procorofs'rpi , 
 and Boris Alexiovitz GaHizin. 
 
of tle Mufcovite Empire . 4. 
 
 The firft is Urrcle to His prefent Ma- 
 jefty, being the Brother of the Emprefs 
 Dowager , his Mother. He is Chief Mi- 
 nifter of State. 
 
 The fécond is the Lord Treafurer of 
 the Empire, a perfon advanced in years, 
 and much efteemed for his gréât Abüity. 
 
 The third is his Majefty 's Favourite, 
 being likewife Minifter of State, befides 
 many other places, which aie of a great 
 yeariy Value to him. Me is a Nephew 
 of the unfortunate Prince Wajfily G alliai», 
 Chief Minifter of State, but fince banifh- 
 ed into Siberia. 
 
 His Majefty gave them a moft particular 
 Charge of the Prince hisonly Son, being then 
 fcarce nine years of Age; This young 
 Prince is of a very vigorous Conftitution, 
 fiobuft, Tall, and well Shaped, having 
 a great refemblance, as well in his Face 
 as his Natural difpofition, to the Czar his 
 Father. 
 
 General Cour don had orders to Encamp 
 with twenty Thoufand of the beiVTroops 
 near the City of Mvfcow, to keep a watch- 
 ful eye, and to be in readinefs upon a- 
 ny occafton that ihould ofter. This Ge- 
 neral is a Scotcbman by Extraction , who 
 entred into the Service of the Czar Alexis 
 jyiicbaelovitz ,, his prefent Czari/h Majefty s 
 Father. He lias given eminent Proofs of 
 his Vaiour and Ability upon feveral Oc- 
 cafions, which has defervedly acquired 
 him the Efteem both of his Czar if h Ma- 
 jefty, and the whole Mvfçovite Nation, . 
 
 nof- 
 
 
44 T " prefent Condition 
 
 notwithftanding he is a Roraan Catho- 
 lick. 
 
 Things beingthus difpofed, His Maje- 
 fty left the City of Mufcow, Incognito 
 vvith his Ambaffadours, who were atrend- 
 ed by a moil numerous and magnifi- 
 eent Train. Tney took the way of Plef- 
 cow , pafled through the Frontiers of Li- 
 vonia, CottrUnd and Samegitia, and fo ar- 
 rived fafely at Conivgsbergh , the Capital 
 City of the Ducal Prttjfîa, where they vvere 
 received with a great deal of Spiendor 
 by hisElectoral High'nefs of Brandenburgh. 
 In this City, his Czârifh Majeity receivd 
 the Polt-news , by a Meiïenger fenc 
 for that purpofe, That the Kleftor of 
 Saxony vvas elecled King of Poland, and, 
 dtat the Cardinal Primat, r had protefted 
 againft the faid Election, nnder prêt ex r, 
 That the Prince of Cor.ti vvas legally 
 chofen. Upon which, immédiate orders 
 were difpatcned to the Mufcovite Ambaf- 
 fâdour, then refiding in PoUnd, to main- 
 tain the Rights of Eleftion made to the 
 Elector of Saxonj, and to affûte him, in 
 behalf of his Czarifh Majefty, That he had 
 ;ixty thonfand Men in readinefs, at his 
 Service, in orrîer to maintam his jtift Prê- 
 ter., ions to the Crown or Pohnd\ and, That 
 orders. were aîready fênt into AInfcovy, 
 to: the Troops ro advance from Smolen- 
 ■ sko, towards the Frontiers of Litbmma, tore- 
 tain that Great Dutchy in his Polijh Ma- 
 defty’s Dévotion, It is without ail que- 
 stion, the fear of fo Povverful an Aifiltance^ 
 
 hacl 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 4* 
 
 had no fmall Influence over many of the 
 Pôles , in the contrary Intereft: ; it being 
 moft évident, that when the Prince of 
 Conti appear’d in perfon near Dant-vc^ 
 thofe of Pmjfta , though not averfe to . 
 that Prince’ s Intereft, durft not déclaré 
 for him. 
 
 Afrer fome ftay at Cornrgsbergh, his 
 Czarifh Majefty continued his Journey 
 towards Berlix , the Ordinary Refidence 
 of his Eleftoral Highnefs cf BranAenburgb , 
 where he was received with ail the pof-- 
 flble demonftrations of Honour and É- 
 fteem due to a Prince of fo Eminent a 
 Rank- It is moft certain, That the Grand 
 Czar was fo well fatisfied with his Re- 
 ception here, and with the Great Quali- 
 fications he difcovered in his prefent 
 Eledtoral Highnefs, That he lias declared 
 feveral times fince, that as foon as the 
 yonng Prince his Son fhould be fit to 
 Travel, he would fend him to the Court 
 of Berlix , to tarry there for fome con- 
 fiderable Time.- 
 
 No iooner had their High and Migh- 
 tinelïes, the States General of the United 
 Provinces received advice, that this fo- 
 lemn Embafly was on their way towards 
 their Frontiers, but tliey lent fome De- 
 puties, who were to receive their Ex- 
 cellencies in the narae of the States Ge- 
 neral upon : the Frontiers ; and orders 
 were given_ not only to defray them at the 
 Charge ôf the ^ State, but to welcome 
 them with conftderable Prefents, and by 
 
 the 
 
 
46 The prefent Condition 
 
 the difcharge of the great Carinon of ail 
 the great Towns throiïgh which they paf- 
 fed J their High and Mightuie/fes being 
 willing upon fo extaordinary an Occafiorf, 
 to eternalize the Memory of the Honour 
 they werê going to receive by fo folemn 
 an Embaffy, the moft gîorious that evèr 
 wasfeen; in refpect of Perfônal Apppear- . 
 ance of fo great a Monarch, with whoiti 
 they were Engaged in a moft ftriét Tye 
 of Friendfhip and Commerce. After 
 they had travelled fome Leagues in the 
 Territories of the United Provinces, his 
 Czarifh Majefty left the Embàiïy , that 
 hç might with the more fpeed reach 
 the City of Amfteldàm ; and that by tra- 
 velling thus in Difguife, he might with 
 the more'freedom, and unperceived, take 
 a view of every thing he thought worth 
 his Curiofity. Accordingly he came to 
 Amfteldam, accompanied only by two of 
 three Gentlemen, fo difguifed, as not to 
 be known by any body, where he lodg- 
 ed, at a Common-Inn for one night on- 
 ly ; The next day he went to fardant, a 
 large Town on the oppoftte ftde of the 
 River of Amfteldam-mà about two Leagues 
 diftant, this place being- moft famous 
 for the great number of Ship-Wrights 
 and others, who are there employed çon- 
 tinually in building of Ships. 
 
 His Majefty immediately after his ar- 
 rivai there, took up with a private lodg- 
 fngs at a Burgher ' s Houfe, which lay much 
 out of the way, his ainVbemg to'keep him- 
 
 felf 
 
rjf the Mufcovite Empire, 47 
 
 felf hom being difcovered, as much as. 
 poflible could be. His Chief and firlt em- 
 ployment in this place, was to inform 
 himfelf in perfon from the Work-mens 
 own Mouths, and to be an Eye-witnefs 
 in what manner they built their Ships ; 
 
 He bought a fmali Facht of about twen- 
 ty iive or thirty Foot long, vvhicli he 
 took a particular Pleafuie to lleer 
 himfelf, and to Sail in the Company on- 
 ly of thofe three Gentlemen, that at- 
 tended him up and down the River ôf 
 Amfteldam fcalled the Tej) where his grea- 
 teft delight was, to make his own Ob- 
 fervations, and to feed his eyes with that 
 molt beautiful ProfpeCt of that vait num- 
 ber of Ships, which not unlike a'Forrelt, 
 lie clofe together in the Road of that 
 City. 
 
 But it was not many days beforé he 
 was robbed • of the Satisfaction of paiTing 
 away his time thus undifcovered. For a 
 certain Lock-Smith, who had lived a ft w 
 years before jn the City of Atufcolv, hap- 
 pening to take particular Notice of 
 him one day, as he pafled by, knew him 
 firlt ; and having told fome of his Com- 
 rades, the inhabitants fiock’d infuchNum- 
 bers about him, when he appear’d a- 
 broad, that being tired with the Crowd, 
 he refolved to leave Sordam, fooner than 
 he iptended at firlt. 
 
 This News being corne to the Ears of 
 the Merchants of Amfteldam, Trading to 
 Mfifcov h fome'of whom had the Honour 
 
 to 
 
4.8 The prefent Condition 
 
 to know His Majefty, they immediately 
 Went in a Body to pay him ail imagi- 
 nable Refpe&, and to pray him to ho- 
 nour them with his Prefence in the City 
 oï uimfteldam ; where he avrived from Sor- 
 dam fome days before the Ambafladours, 
 who had received Orders to tarry for fome 
 time there, before they went to the Hague, 
 in order to be Admitted to the pubiicfe 
 Audience of Their High and Mightineffes. 
 
 In the mean while the Magiftrates of 
 Amfteldam took effectuai Care to provide, 
 every thing for the Magnificent Réception 
 ôf the faid Embafly, great ilote of Can- 
 non being planted upon the Bailions, facing 
 the Rivet Amftell, which way the Ambaf- 
 fadours were to corne. Ail the young 
 Men of the City mounted on Horfeback, 
 with very fplendid Equipages and thofe 
 of the beft Rank and Quality, went to 
 meet him , in their Coaches. The Ma- 
 giilrates députêd fome of tlieiv Members 
 to Compliment Their Excellencies at 
 their Landing, .which was about a quarter 
 of a League without the City, whither 
 they were conduéled in the Yatchs of the 
 State, and received with a Difcharge of 
 ali the Cannon round the Ramparts. 
 
 The three Ambafladours were conducl- 
 ed by the Deputies into the Coach of one 
 of the Chief Magiflrates of the City ; the 
 Deputies 1 . took their Places in the fécond, 
 and the reft of the Coaches were taken up 
 by the Gentlemen of the Embafly, among 
 whôm, as it was reported, was His Czar-, 
 
 ifli 
 
of the Mufco vite Empire . 
 
 ifh Majefty. But firft of ail, rid the be- 
 forementioned Gentlemen on Horfeback, 
 who leading the Van, vvere foliovved by 
 the Trumpets of the State, and thefe by 
 fome Tartars , Armed with Bows, and 
 fome Mufcüvites on Horfeback. Afcer thefe 
 marched on foot twenty Pages belonging 
 to Their Exceilencies the Ambaffadours, 
 very richly Clad , their Çoats being of 
 Scarlet Cioth, covered ail over with very 
 rich Go!d and Silver Gailoons. Thefe 
 went immediaely before the Coach, where- 
 in fat the three Ambaffadôurs, Guarded 
 on each fide by twelve Tall and lufty 
 Fellows, Cloath’d in a Slavoman Drefs, car- 
 rying each a Silver Ax in their hands, and 
 Cimmetars with Silver Hilts on their Sides. 
 Theyhad red Cloaks over their Caffacqxet, 
 trimrn d on both fides with large Silver 
 Buttons, and large Plated Loops ; ail which 
 together, made a very Glorious and Mag- 
 nificent Show. Thefe Coaches were fbl- 
 lowed by a great many Footmen, like- 
 wife clad in red Scarlet Cloath, trim- 
 med with Silver Gailoons. His Excellen- 
 cy the General Le Fort, appeared that day 
 in an Europian^ Habit, and the other tvvo 
 Ambafladours, in a A'hfcovite Drefs, but 
 their Apparel was extre ri mly Rich. Thus 
 they palled in very good order through 
 the Chiefeft Streets of Àmfteldam , to the 
 Lodgings prepared for them, vwhere ftood 
 a Company of City Trained-bands in 
 Arms, to render theiï Réception the more 
 Magnificent ; Ail the Streets through which 
 E theÿ 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 they pafled, were crowded with an in- 
 finité number of Feople, who were ilock Vi 
 to the City to be Spe&ators of the moit 
 iolemn Entrance that had been feen there 
 for many years before ; and for feveral 
 days after, their Excellencies were trea- 
 ted with ail tire magnificence imagina- 
 ble, at the Charge oi the City of 
 Amfieldam ; ail winch, though it amount- 
 ed to a confiderable^Summ, neverthelefs 
 the Magiftrates being willing upon this 
 Occafion to give the moft ample 
 Dcmonftrations that poflible could be, of 
 their Efteem and Refpeft for His Czarilh 
 Majefty 's perfon, caufed a great Fire-Work 
 to be prepared, reprefenting a Triumph- 
 al-Arch, in Eonour of his Majefty. 
 
 It was erefted upon the River Am- 
 ftel ( which had communicated its Name 
 to the Famous City of Amfteldam) in a 
 place wliere it might be feen at a great di- 
 ftance, being of great height, and having 
 four Fronts alike to the four principal Cor- 
 ners of the World ; the whole Fabriek being 
 of the Cor'inthian Ordêr, adorned with the 
 Arras of Eis Czarifh Majefty, with Tritons, 
 Veflels , and, many other Embellifh- 
 ments. The whole Machine was buiit 
 upon many Flat-bottom’d Veflels, jo'nfd 
 clofe together, which being covered 
 ail over with a Linnen Painted Cloth, the 
 bottom upon whicli the Fabriek was found- 
 ed, reprelènted at a dirtance, a fmall Illand. 
 
 This Fire-work being too remoce from 
 their Excellencies Lodgings, to be feen 
 there 
 
of the Mufcoviie Empire . £ t 
 
 there in its full Perfedion , the Magi- 
 ftrates intreated them to go with them 
 to a noted Tavern of Amfteldam , called 
 the Dcclan , where they had the advan- 
 tage of being Spedators of the Succefs 
 of the Pire- works, to theirentire Satisfa- 
 dion, and were regaled with a moft 
 magnificent Collation, His Majefty being 
 graciouflÿ pleafed to appeâr in perfon at 
 this Feaft ; it was then the firft time, 
 that I had the opportunhy of taking a 
 full view of him, as well as cthers, at 
 leifure. Ke is a very Tall and Lufty 
 Perfon, Well fet, with very good Features 
 in his Face, and, though there is a great 
 deal Vivacity in his Eyes, ( which are 
 Black and Sprightly ) as well as A&ivity 
 in his whole Air, he has certain Marks 
 of a Sweet Difpofîtion in his Phyfiogno- 
 my. He is very affable in Converfation, 
 giving frequent opportunities to be enter- 
 tained with any thing tint is Curious. 
 
 Sonie Hours after it was Dark, the 
 Fire-works began to Play, with extraor- 
 dinary Succefs, to the Admiration of ail 
 the Spedators in General, and His Czar- 
 iifli Majefty' in partiulcar, who could not 
 fufficiently fpeak praife in of it, and dé- 
 claré publickly the Satisfadion he had 
 taken in the whole Entertainment. The 
 Concourfe of Peopîe was fo great at this 
 publick Rejoycing, that by the Throng, 
 iome of the Iron Rails of the Bridge of 
 the Amftel being. broke down, a great 
 many of thofe upon the Bridge, fell in- 
 E 2 to 
 
2 The prefent Condition 
 
 to the River, fomecf whom weredrown- 
 ed, the relt narrowiy efcaping with Life, 
 by the help of fome Boats that vvere near at 
 hand. 
 
 But the Deputies of the Admiralty of 
 Amfieldam , being fenfible that they could 
 give no gréa ter fatisfa&ion to the Czar, 
 than in what related to the knowlçdge of 
 Naval Affairs, took effectuai care to fhew 
 his Majelly ail their Store-Houfes, belong- 
 ing to the Building and Equipping of their 
 Men of War. 
 
 I hâve it from good Kands, that thefe 
 Gentlemen who were deputed to attend 
 him thither, were extreamly furprifed to 
 fee him with fo much eagernefs enquire 
 after every thing, that had the leaft rela- 
 tion to thefe Affairs, and with how qauch 
 Skill and Judgrnent he would talk and argue 
 cencerning thefe Matters, into whith Ç as 
 they were perfwaded before) he had but a 
 flender Iniight. 
 
 Some Daÿs after, hisMajefty took a Pro- 
 grefs to ZJtrvcht, where lie had an Inter- 
 view with his BritanicJ^ Majelfy '■> this being 
 the firft titne thefe two Great Princes, E- 
 minent for their Virtue and Bravery, met. 
 They Difcourfed for feveral L’ours toge- 
 ther, and parted from one another with ail 
 the marks of a'mutual high Efteem. 
 
 The Ambafladors ftay’d near twoMonths 
 at Amjïddam , before they went to the 
 Hague, in order to their Audience : For 
 his Czarïjh Majelfy being refol v cl that they 
 flioiild make their Appearance there with 
 ‘ ail 
 
of the Mufcovi te Empire. $ q 
 
 ail the Splendor imaginable, Order’d that 
 the Number of their Domefticks ihould 
 be confiderably augmented , that they 
 fhould be ail new Cloathed, and Richer 
 than before. They had alfo an addition 
 to their Equipage three of th>e richeftCcach- 
 es that could be made, with fo many Sets 
 of very fine Horfes. 
 
 Every thing being got ready for their 
 Departure to the Hague , they fet ont on 
 their Journey, carrying along with ■ them 
 good ftore of Sables and other rich Furs, 
 to be Prefented to their High and Mighti- 
 rtefles from the C?.ar their Mafter, pur- 
 fuant to the Cuftom of moft Eaftern Na- 
 tions. 
 
 Their Excellencies were receivd at the 
 Hague , with ail the marks of Honour and 
 Refpeél due to their High Charafter, and 
 the Day for their publick 'Audience being 
 appointed, his Cz,arijh‘ Majefly followed 
 in Perfon in Difguife , wearing a plain 
 blew Coat, à large white Perriwig, and 
 white pearher ; and being perfe&îy well 
 acquainted both with the perfon, and ex- 
 traordinary Merits of the Sieur Witfen (who 
 is this Year Burgo-Mafter of Am/feldant) 
 he borrowed his Coach, and dsfired him to 
 accompany him thither, vfhich was per- 
 formed with lo much dexterity and fecrecy 
 by the laid Sieur de VPiifen , that his Ma- 
 jefty ^as not difcover'd by any body li- 
 ving. 
 
 E 3 le 
 
The prejent Condition 
 
 It was in the Month of September ôf the 
 laft Year , when there was the greateft 
 fhow of Forreign Ambaffado’vs, that ever 
 was feen at the Hague, occafion d by the 
 Negotiation of Peace at Refwic ^ , whither 
 moft Courts of Europe had fent their PJeni- 
 potentiaries, who ail ftriving to Outview 
 one another in Magnificence, it was no 
 eafie matter'to add any thing to theSplen- 
 dor of their Equipages : Yet his Czarijh 
 Majefty being fenfible that the Eyes of the 
 World, would in a moft peculiar manner 
 be fixed upon his Embaflÿ } and being in- 
 vited by a moft commendable Emulation j 
 to maintain upon this, as weli as ail other 
 occafions the Glory and Luftre of his Emi- 
 nent Station in the World, as claiming the 
 Title of an Émperor, and bearing the Im- 
 périal Arms, he was fully refolv’d that 
 this moft Sol emn Embafly, honour’d by his 
 Prefence, ftrould bear the marks of, and be 
 anfwerable to his Grandeur. 
 
 In effeft, according to the Teftimony of 
 ali that were Speclators of this Solemn Au- 
 dience, every thing was manag’d with fo 
 much Order, Majefty and Gravity, and 
 with fo much Magnificence, that nothing 
 could be added to the Lultre of this Salem - 
 nity, vvbich in -ail Refpecls, was fuitable to 
 his Majefty 's Defign and Grandeur. 
 
 It is cqnfefsVJ by ail hands, that never 
 any Ambaifador appeafd in a more Splen- 
 did Attire, tban the General le Fort, the 
 firft Ambaifador did that Day ; he was 
 Chd after the Mufcovite Fajfhion, in a long 
 ! Robe 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire, ç 5 
 
 Robe of Cloth of Gold, Lin’d with the 
 moft precious Sables that ever were feen. 
 
 This Robe, as well as the Veft which he 
 wore under it, was cover’d before with Di- 
 amond? of an ineftimable Value, and upon 
 his Bonnet there appear’d a large Jewel of 
 Diamonds in the fhape of a Herns Feather, 
 
 With fuch luftre as dazled the Eyes of tbe 
 Beholders : Ke harangued their High and 
 Mightinefl'es in the Ruffian Tongue, with 
 an Air altcgether Majeftick, fuitable to the 
 Characcer he bore upon fo-Solemn an Occa- 
 fion. The two other Ambalfadors, who 
 appear’d likewife in very Rich Apparel , 
 rriade alfo their Compliments to their High 
 and MightinefTes with a Majeftick Gravity : 
 
 But that which added the greateft Lu lire to 
 this Audience, was, that ail the Ambafta- 
 dors of moft Princes in Europe, honour ’d 
 thefe Men with their Prefence, and his 
 Çzarijb Majefty had the fatisfaclion to be 
 an Eye Witnefs of ail what pafled, from a 
 Clofet which had a Window opening into 
 the Audience Room, without being per- 
 ceived by any body, and returned the next 
 day privateîy to Amfieldam , extreamly 
 well pleafed with his Journey. Neither did 
 their Excellencies make any long ftay at 
 the Hague, they having no other" Matters to 
 propofe to the States, but the confirmation 
 of former Treaties. 
 
 It is agreed on ail hands,' that the prin- 
 cipal Motive of this Etr.baffy was, that un- 
 der the fpecious Pretence of this Publick 
 Solemnity, the Czar might with the more 
 E 4 * COU- 
 
$6 The prefent Condition 
 
 conveniency pafs Incognito , through fucli 
 Places as he intended to vifit ; his particu- 
 lar aim in refpeff ro his Journey into Hol- 
 land, being to hâve the opportunity of 
 being undifcover’d at Amftcldam, to take, 
 with the more conveniency ^ y full view of 
 fuch Matters as related to Maritime Affaire, 
 and without any diPcurbance , to take-Peo- 
 ple fit for the Sea-Service into his Pay, and 
 at the famé time to fupply hunfelf with 
 fuchNeceffaries, as was requifite for the 
 carrying on his Grand Defign. 
 
 T, his fufficiently appear’d after his rcturn 
 from the Hague , by his Requeft to the 
 Magiftrates of Amfteldam, to wit, to chufe 
 private Lodgings for hupfelf, and a few 
 Gentlemen of his Retinue at one end of 
 the City. It muft be confefs’d the Lodg- 
 ings \yere but very indiffèrent, in refpeft *. f 
 the Qualicy of the Perfon that was to Inha- 
 bit them ; but in regard of their Situation, 
 they were in ail Points agreeable to his 
 Majefty’s Intention, they being juft adjoyn- 
 ing to the Eaft-India Houfe, which 1) ing 
 near a convenient Road for Ships, there 
 was the moit agreeable profpeft th'at could 
 be to the Water-fide, of ail what paffed to 
 or from Amfteldam. 
 
 No fooner had his Majefty taken poffef- 
 fion of thefe fmall Lodgings, but he ap- 
 plied ail his Thoughts to the knowledge of 
 two Things : The firlf was to be Initrucled 
 in ail Particulars, which had any relation 
 to the Building and Equipping of Ships : 
 The fécond, to learn the manner of Bom- 
 t >■ > barding 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. £ 7 
 
 barding Places by Sea, whieh being a thing 
 he was defirous to be inform’d of , he fpat a 
 110 pains to attain to. But as his Geniiis 
 was always bent to the Mathematicks* âfid 
 as he had been Inftrufted moft particülarly 
 in the Mechanick part of if, which côntâins 
 the Fondamental Principles of both : It was‘ 
 yet long before he raade himfeif Ma lier of 
 thefe Myfterious Arts; efpecialîy, fince his 
 délire was fuch, as not to reft fatisfy’d 
 with being a looker en', but wculd lay him- 
 felf a hand to the Work fometimes, with a 
 great deal of Pleafure, and finifh a pièce 
 with his own Hands, which he did with ffc» 
 mu ch dexterity , that one would hâve 
 fwore he had been aceuftomed long âge, to 
 handle the Axe and the Hammer. I hâve 
 my felf feen two pièces of his ow n Hâiîdy- 
 W'ork ; one was a fmall Frigat of tinte or 
 four Foot long, the other a little Wind - 
 Miîl. 
 
 What elfe can be gathered from ail this, 
 but that his Conduct in relation tô. thefe 
 Matters, is fourded upon meft piofoünd 
 Reafons of State ? It feetus évident tp ffîe, 
 
 . that the foie motive of it, is the Glory 
 and Greatnefs ot the RùJJian Monarchy ; 
 and that by the eagerntfs he Ihews upen 
 this occafion , of advancing the Naval 
 Strengrh of his Empire, he intends to give 
 the moft évident demonftratohs he is able, 
 ftb his Nobility and PeopleJ that On its due 
 Eftablifirment, dépends the chief Welfarc 
 pf the Realm ; and that by divefting him- 
 feif thus of his Royal Dignity for a tirne, 
 
 * and 
 
^ 8 The prefent Condition 
 
 and applyinghimfelf inPerfon to the Build- 
 ing of Ships, he intends to ferve for an 
 Exemple to invite them to follow his Foot- 
 fteps. He is too fèniîble thîtt the Mufco- 
 ’vites are naturally inclin'd to Pride and 
 Lazinefs, and he look’d upon it as the beft 
 means to correét thofe Vices in them, and 
 hinder their further progrefs among them, 
 if he by his own Example did encourage 
 them to Labour and. Induflry. 
 
 At his fpare Hours, his greateft deîight 
 ufed to be, to take a view of any thing that 
 was curious, or wortîi his obfervation in 
 private Perfons Houfes, where helay’d hold 
 of ali opportunités, to enter into a fami- 
 îiar Difcourfe with them, in fo obliging a 
 manner, that the Hoilanders, who are ex- 
 treamly taken with familiar Converfation, 
 were charnfd with his franck Behivfotir ; 
 which had this effeél upon them, that it is 
 almoft incredible, how many voluntariîy 
 offer’d themfelves to ferve him ; I having 
 been an Eye-witnefs my felf, that a gréât 
 number of able and well-deferving Perfons 
 couîd not be admitted into the Service, be- 
 caufe the intended Levies were compleated 
 in much lefs time than was expe&ed. 
 
 Not long after the Ambaffadors return 
 froiri the Hague, his Majefty receiv’d aji 
 Exprefs frona Majcovy, with the agreeable 
 News of a Battle, fought betwixt the Mpt[~ 
 c'ovites , under the Commancî of the Prince 
 Schein , and the Tartars near Jfoph. The 
 Çhajn of the Crlm Tartarjt, had ih the be- 
 ginningof the Spring, caufed a great num- ‘ 
 
ofthe Mufcovite Empire . 
 
 ber of Crim Tartan to pafs in niany fmall 
 Bodies, and at different times thro’ Cajfa, 
 inorder to join them with the Tartars of 
 CtrcaJJîa ; and efpecially thofe Inhabiting 
 near the River .Cubance, Knowing that the 
 Mufcovite Army was divided into feveral 
 Bodies, the better to cover the Workmen, 
 that were employed in feveral Places, in 
 compleating the before-mentioned Fortifi- 
 cations, he lcok’d upon this as a fit oppor- 
 tunity to furprife them unawares.- For 
 which purpofe, lie order’d the Tartars Com- 
 manded by Sultan ùalga , to advance with 
 great and fpeedy Marches toward the Eue- 
 my. But the Mufcovite General Schein , ha- 
 ving receiv'd Intelligence of their approach, 
 had juft fo much leifure given him, as to 
 draw together his Troops in an advan- 
 tageous place, where he refolv'd to engage 
 the Enemy. Thefe perceiving themfelves 
 fuperiour in number to the Mufcovites, and 
 beina encouragd by that pretended fear 
 of the Aîufeovï.j Ârmy, which did not 
 move from their Foft, fell with great fury 
 upon them, and were received with great 
 bravery by the Ruffians, who were con- 
 tentée! to defend themfelves in their Poil, 
 till their General perceiving the firft beat 
 cf the Tartars fpent, attack’d them vety 
 briskly, put them firft into Confufion, and 
 foon after to the Rouf, with a great 
 Slaughter on the Enemiesfide, whom they 
 purfued to the River Hagalirie \ , where ma- 
 ny of them were drewned. This River 
 runs through CircaJJia , about two Leagues 
 . . diftant 
 
6 o The prefent Condition 
 
 diftant from Afoph. Our Maps put this Ri- 
 ver to the North on the other fide of the 
 River Don , above thirty Leagues from 
 AÇoph 
 
 Their Excellencies the Afufcovite Am- 
 bafladors made publick Rejoycings upon 
 this Qccafion, and invited the Magiftrates 
 and other Perfons of Quality to a Magni- 
 fient Entertainment, wiiere they were di- 
 verted with Dancing, Mufick, Fireworks, 
 and ali forts of other Divertifements. His 
 Czœrifh Majefty was pleasd to appear there 
 in Perfon, and in fo pleaiant a Humour, 
 that ail the Guefs were extreamly fktisfy ’d 
 with his Goodnefs, and at parting, made ali 
 the moft fincere Proteftations to his Ma- 
 jefty, that they fhould keep in everlafting 
 Remembrance, the extraordinary Favour 
 he had been pleas d to beftow upon thera, 
 in honouring them with his Prefence. 
 
 Towards the beginning of the VVinter, 
 this Viélory was Seconded by the News of 
 another. Advantage, obtain’d near the Ri- 
 ver Boryftbenes ■. For the Crim Tartars in 
 conjonction with thole of Bud<iacl> and 
 Ocuakpw having beiîeged Kafihermeen , had 
 earried on their Trenches to the veryCoun- 
 terfcarp, and at the famé time made them- 
 felves Mafters o‘f the Adjacent fmall ille of' 
 jTowam. But a Body of Mufiozites having 
 joined the Coffœcks inhabiting thofe 'F'rc-n- 
 tiers, came time enough to the relief of 
 the Place, forcing the Dinars to abandon 
 the Siégé and the Ille, with a eonfîderable 
 v lp'3 on their hde. Upon which his Majefty 
 r * : ■ * gave 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 6 ï 
 
 gave Orders, that- the fiaicf liland fhouW 
 be ftrengthned by fome rsgular Fortifi- 
 cations. . 
 
 The famé Exprefs brought likevÿilè the 
 News, that the new Haroour about feyen 
 Leagues Frotn Ajoph, (of which mention 
 has been made before) was brought tô per- 
 fection, the Place being already ïnhabited 
 by T en Thoufand Mufccvites, his Majefty 
 having exprefly forbidden any Forreign 
 Nation to fettle there. He gave tire Name 
 of Setruchim Tuba, to this City. In a little 
 time after, Advice was alfo brought his 
 Majefty, that a gveat number of the Cir- 
 , cajfîan Tartars haa voluntariiy fubmitt^d to 
 his Obedience ; and theieupon being ioined 
 by fome Mufccrvite Trcops, they had ex- 
 tended their Conquefts into the Crlm Tar- 
 tary , to the River Mtous, about five and 
 tvventy Leagues diftant fiom Afcpb, where 
 the Turks formerly ufed to unload their 
 Ships bound to that Place 5 and that the 
 Mufcovites were then bufie in building a 
 ftrong Fort near the Mouth of that River, 
 thereby to make themfelves Mafters of, 
 
 . and to comrnand that Road. 
 
 The C<,ar having now taken a refolutioiî 
 to pafs over into England , before his de- 
 parture out of this Country, gave notice 
 of his Intention to his Britamck^ Majefty, 
 who immediately fent fome Yachts and 
 light Friggots to conduft him thither. He 
 Embavk'd with an Attendance only ' of 
 Tvvelve or Fifteen Perfpns, ordering his . 
 Ambaffadois to ftay behind at Amjieldam, 
 
 and 
 
62 The prefent Condition 
 
 and to buy up good flore of Artillery and 
 Atnmunition: And being happily arriv'd 
 in Exgland, he was received there with alJ. 
 the Hop.our and Refpeéï due to fo Great a 
 Prince ; His Brîtanick. Majefty offering him 
 for his Refïdence the Royal Palace, call’d 
 Sommer fa - Houfe, (which is very Remark- 
 able for its pleafant Scituation on the River 
 Thames,) and a Gnard to attend his Perfon ; 
 but the Czar perfifting in his Refolution 
 to pafs his time in England, Incognito, hé 
 refufed to accept of the King of England' s 
 OfFers. 
 
 Afcer he had received the Compliments 
 front his Majefty and the Royal Family, 
 and return’d the famé to them, he fpent 
 fome time in taldng a view of the Twô 
 Houfes of Parliament, and what elfe was 
 worth his Obfervation at Court ; and then 
 retir’d at fome diftance from the City of 
 London, for the conveniency of the Pro- 
 fpeft upon the River, from whence he 
 might obferve the Workmen, that were 
 Employed thereabotits in the building of 
 Ships. He ftayd above Two Months in 
 England, duririg which time, he Employ'd 
 moll of his fpare Hours, in viewing ail 
 what was Curious or Remarkable, efpe- 
 cially among the bëft Artifts. 
 
 Some London Merchants having propofed 
 to his Czarljh Majefty, the Eftabiifhment 
 of a new Commerce of L'obacco, to be 
 Tranfported only by them into Mnfcovy, 
 and the other Countries undèr his Majefty s 
 Obedience , ite fent for Fedor Alexicvitz 
 Gallavin , 
 
qf the Mufco vite Empire . 6 q 
 
 Gallavin , his.Second Àmbaftador, to Treat 
 with them concerning this Point at London. 
 
 The Treaty was brought to a good iflue, to 
 the Tatisfa&ion of both Parties ; and it has 
 been computed , that the Czats Yearly 
 Cuftoms arifing fiom that Commodity, 
 vvill araount to above a Million of Livres , 
 
 But what is worth our particular Obfer- 
 vation in this Voyage into England, and 
 whichmoft of ail difcovers the main Der 
 fign of his C^arijh Majefty, is, his Frogrefs 
 to Portfmoutb, to be a Speélator of a Sea 
 Engagement betwixt tvvo Englijb $qua- 
 drons, near that Port. I had forgot to tell 
 you before, that the Hollanders did Enter- 
 tain him near Amfterdam , with fuch ano» 
 ther Mock-fight, where a great rnany Yachts 
 were drawn up in different Lines, to fhew 
 to his CzArifb Majefty the manner of En- 
 gagitig one another, and Retiring after 
 an Engagement at Sea. . 
 
 His ÇzÀrifk Majefty having been prefent- 
 ed by the King of England, with a very 
 fine Yatch, RichlyGuilt, carrying Thirty 
 Pièces of Cannon, and one of. the nimbielt 
 for Sailing in the whole Kingdom ; he 
 fent her to Arehangle , and he himfelf re- 
 turn’d, notwithftanding the badnefs of the 
 Seafon into, Holland. 
 
 In the meanwhile that the.'r Excellen- 
 cies were gone back to rite Hague , in Order 
 to take their Audience of Leave from their 
 High and Mightineffes, the Magiftrates of 
 Amfterdam, bemg fenfible, that immediately 
 after their Retuny thcC\ar would fet for- 
 ward 
 
64 The prefeni Condition 
 
 fei'Ward on his Journey to Vienrnt , made 
 
 f rçat préparations fo fignalize their Zeai for 
 is Majefty by feme frefh marks of Ho- 
 nour : But he no fooner had notice of their 
 Defign, but lie fent to defire them to de- 
 fift, being willing to lçave their City with- 
 out noife, and undifcover’d, after a Thou- 
 fand Teftimonies of their Elleem and 
 Friendfhip to his Perfon , received both 
 ftom the Magiftrates and other Inhabitants, 
 during the Six Months he had ftay’d among 
 them. 
 
 Ue was juft upon his departure, when he 
 was furprifed by the unwelcome News , 
 that tliere had been a Mutiny near the Ci- 
 ty of Mufcovp, among fome Remainders 
 of the StrelitK.es , but that General Gourdon 
 had foon difperfed them, and taken moft 
 of their Ringleaders Prifonersj who as 
 they hâve thereby haften’d thè entire Ruine 
 of their Party, fo they hâve brought them- 
 félves to a miferable End, having received 
 fince that finie the due Rewards of their 
 Treachery. ^ For a great Number of them 
 were Hang’d on Gibbets, and many of the 
 Nobility had their Heads eut off. 
 
 You cannot be ignorant of what has 
 pafled fince his Cz,œrijh Majefty ’s Departure 
 ouf of Holland ; with-what Honour and 
 Refpeft this Great Prince was received at 
 the Imperia! Court of fiema ; with what 
 çxtraordinary Spiendour and Magnificence * 
 his Embaily appëar’d there ; as iikewife, 
 what obliged his Majefty to return on a 
 fudden into Msifcovj. le is alfo fufficient- 
 
 ' ly 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 
 
 lyknown to you,. that he lefc Frocofet 
 Bogdanovitz, JVolnisJn, as his Ambaiîadour 
 and Plenipotentiary for the Negotiation of 
 Peace to be fet on fooc upon the Fron- 
 tière of Hangar y, betwixt the Confédérale 
 Princes and the Ottoman Port. 
 
 His Majefty took the way of Folani in 
 his Return homewards, where he had an 
 Interview, not far from Lembergh, with his 
 prefent Folijh Majefty, who aftured him, 
 That he was refolved to continue the 
 War againft the Turks, -unlefs Peace might 
 beobtained upon very good Conditions, 
 and efpecially by the Surrender of Ca- 
 minieck to the Pôles. 
 
 But whatever the iffue of this Treaty 
 may be, you will eafily grant me , if 
 you will be pleafed to rerieft ferioufly 
 upon what I hâve told you before, That, 
 fuppofing tfte Czar of -Mufcovy fhould not 
 be comprehended in the faid Peace, he is 
 alone capable of waging War againft the 
 Turks, and not without hopes of Succefs 
 on his fide. For his Frontiers being fo 
 well provided and ftrengthned with good 
 .Fortifications on that fide where the 
 Turks muft attack him ; he has no more 
 to do, t'han to be upon the Defenfive by 
 Land,and in the mean while to attack thenf 
 briskly at Sea. And it is more tlian pro- 
 bable, That this is the Grand Defign of 
 this Prince, who feems to hâve taken 
 ftich fure Meafures in refpeft to the Efta- 
 bli fument of his Maritime Affaire, that 
 there is ail the Reafon' in the World to. 
 
 F be- 
 
66 Theprefent Condition 
 
 believe, that he will always Triumph 
 over the Turks at Sea, who never did any 
 thing Mémorable in that Service ; and 
 who according to ail ôutward Appear- 
 ance, are lefs in a Condition than ever 
 to fignalize themfelves upon the Watery 
 Elément at a time, w'hen their Empire 
 appears in a declining State. 
 
 I will leave it to your own Judg- 
 ment, \Vhether it would r.ot fliake the 
 very Foundation of the Turhlfh Monarchy, 
 confidering ifs prefent tottering Conditi- 
 on, if the Mufcovltes ihould chafe the 
 Turks out of the Black- Se a , , and make 
 themfelves Mafters of their ports on thele 
 Coafts, which ftom the City of Caffa, as 
 far as to the mouth of the BcrjJthencs , 
 muft thereby be expofed to the Mercy 
 of the Mufccvites ? And it is not im- 
 probable that Conjî antinomie it felf might 
 be hardly put to it, or at leaft run the 
 Hazzard of being laid in Allies by a 
 Bcmbardment. What would in fuch a 
 café, become of the Crhn-Tartary , which 
 being already enclofed on- ail ftdes by a 
 good number of ftrong Fortefles, muft of 
 neceilky fail, vvithout making one Blow, 
 into the hands of the Mufcovltes, if ail 
 Commerce and Correfpondence betvvixt 
 the Pemr.fula and Confantlnofe Ihould be 
 eut ptf, by the Mufccvites beccming Ma- 
 itCrs/jf the Black- Sea ï 
 
 Befulesp 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 67 
 
 Befides, it is to be tonfdered, thaï' as 
 Places are attack’d now a-d?vs, thcy hâve 
 only Precop and Caffa, ' which are in a 
 Condition to make forae fîender Defence. 
 
 But, Sir, being unwilling to tire your 
 Patience with too long a Lewër, I vvill 
 corne to a Conclufion , I muft only repeat 
 to you once more, whàt I hâve imimat- 
 ed before, That it was the greateft O- 
 ver-fight the Turks could be guüty of, not 
 to take ail the imaginable Précautions a- 
 gainft the Mufcovites beccming Mafters 
 of Afoph, who thereby hâve opened them- 
 felves the way into the Black,- Se a, oyer 
 wh ich the Ottonian Empire always claim’d 
 the Sovereignty in a moif peculiar man- 
 ner. To makp fome Amends far fo nn- 
 pardonable an Error , the moft likely 
 means they hâve left, feems to be, to con- 
 clude an everlafting Peace with the JlTuf- 
 covites , thereby to lull them alleep, tirât 
 they may not lay hold ôf this Opportuni- 
 ty of rendring themfelves redoubtable in 
 the Black,- Se a: 
 
 The Ottoman Port might thus feap a 
 .confiderable Advantage by the Commerce 
 with Mtfcovy, by eftablilhing certain Duties 
 to be paid for the paflage of Ships through 
 the Ghannel leading to Confiant Impie , in 
 the famé manner as _ it -is praftifed in 
 Denmark , , where the Kjng of that Naine, 
 receives Cuftoms of the Ships that pafs, 
 and repafs the Sound, in their going to, 
 and coming from tlie Baltick. 
 
 F 2 
 
 This 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 This appears to me the only moft pro- 
 bable Means, to plunge them out o£ that 
 Misfortune which they hâve drawn upon 
 themfelves by theiir own Negleft, it being 
 allô w’d by ail that hâve any infight into 
 the prefewt State of Affairs in Mufcovy, 
 That the prefent Czar Peter Alexiovit 
 has taken a' firm Refolution, not to reft 
 fatisfied, till he has opened this P adage 
 in order to eftablifh a free Commerce 
 with foreign Nations, and to encourage 
 them to corne into his Ports near the Pa- 
 lus Meotts. 
 
 This, Sir, is the prefent Condition of 
 the Rujficm Empire, which was formerly 
 look kl upon as moft barbarous, but which 
 no w bids fair for the Priority with any in 
 Europe, by reafon of the Encreafe of its 
 Commerce with- moft Nations of the 
 World, by the indefatigable Vigilaney of 
 thêir prefent Monarch, who being fcarce 
 28 Years of Age > what is it that may 
 not be expeéted from fo Çreat a Prince, 
 if God pleafes to biefs him with a long 
 Life e 
 
 For the fVolga is above five hundred 
 Leagues ( to reckon from its firft Spring) 
 to the Canal, by which it is joiifd with the 
 River Don , and this River from thence 
 to the City of Afoph, four hundred Leagues 
 more, ht for Ships of good Burthen, 
 and from the Canal of. Communication 
 betwixt thefe two noble Rivers, there is 
 two hundred Leagues diftance to Afoph 
 upon a ftraight Line, ail extream good 
 Grounds, 
 
of the Muficovite Empire . 6 g 
 
 Grounds,' Afoph and Afiracan being fitu- 
 tuate under the moft happy Climate in 
 the World. The Weftern fide of the 
 River JVolga is very well inhabitée! al- 
 ready, and there is no great queilion, 
 but that the Conveniency of Commerce, 
 and Plenty of the Country , will (bon 
 invite fome of the Neighbouring vaga- 
 bond Tartars to follow the footfleps of 
 other more civilizd Nations, when once 
 they are made fenfible of the Benefit of 
 an Induftrious and fettled Life. This 
 is fufficiently verified by the Example of 
 many of the Ajîatick , ; Tartan, who hâve 
 by degrees abandoned their vagabond and 
 idle Life, and follow ’d their Prince into 
 China , where they are become Wealthy 
 by their Traffick ; the like may be faia 
 of many of the Crim-Tartars , thofe of 
 Aftracan, Siberia , Daaria, and other 
 parts fubiett to the Afafcovites. # 
 
 If we cail our eyes upon that Part of 
 Mnfcovy, whereabouts the Port of Arch- 
 Angel is, and confider, that not above an 
 Age ago thefe Patts were as little inhabi- 
 .ted as any of Mufcovy, being low Grounds, 
 and fîtuate under a very cold Climate j 
 But fince the Eftablifhment of Commerce 
 in this Harbour , the Country ali there- 
 abouts is. very well ftock'd with Inha- 
 bitants, and many gcodly Towns and 
 Villages. 
 
 In the Southern Parts of Mafccvy, the 
 Cities of IVologda , Jerefla , Rojiof j Pere- 
 Oaw, and others owe ail their Encreafe of 
 F 3 * Wealth 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 Wealth to traffick. Acid to this the ad- 
 vantagre of Commerce betwixt the Indies , 
 Terfu . Mafeovj , by the way of the 
 
 Cafoian Lake or Sea ; ail which Coramo- 
 dities may for the future be tranfported 
 by the -newly proje&ed Canal betwixt 
 the two Rivers JVolga and Bon, into ail 
 Parts of Europe ; what immenfe Profit 
 and Riches mufc not by this means be 
 conveyed into Mafcozy 1 which being al- 
 ready fo confiderable for its va ft Extent 
 and Advantageous Situation for Trade, 
 may in ail prcbability. thereby become 
 the mole Potent and Redoubtable in the 
 Wprld, &c. 
 
 'Amfteldam, 3oth I am. 
 
 QEiober, 1698’ 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 3 ‘ 
 
 
LETTER 
 
 F R O M 
 
 A Perfon of Quality, Refiding at 
 the Impérial Court of 
 
 V I E N N A, 
 
 , To his Friend in 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Concerning the îate Solemn 
 
 ijMufcovite Embafly ; 
 
 AND S O M E 
 OtherMatters Relatingto His Prefent 
 
 Czarish Majesty ; 
 
 T H E { 
 
 %ujfidn Empire, and the Great 
 T A A 
 
 LONDON, Printcd for F. Coggan , in the 
 Inner-Temple-Lane. MDDXCIX. 
 
75 
 
 A 
 
 L E T T E R 
 
 F R O M 
 
 A Perfon of Qoality, Refiding at 
 
 V I E N N J, 
 
 Concerning 
 
 T^e prefent Condition 
 
 O F THE 
 
 çjMufcovite Empire 
 
 A S the la te Journey of the prefent 
 Czar Peter Alexîoviÿi , has béai 
 for fome rime paft, the Surprize 
 of ail Europe ; fo I thought I could net 
 make you a more Seafonable Return at 
 this time , for the Obligation you were 
 pleafed to lay upon me fome Months agô* 
 in communicating to me your Obfervati- 
 ons concerning His Czarifh Majefty $ Stay 
 
 . m 
 
j6 The prefent Condition 
 
 in England and Hàlland, than toinform you 
 of what has pail fince his coming in- 
 to this Court, and his Return into Muf- 
 çovy ; of which I hâve been partly an eye- 
 witnefs, the reft I ftand indebted for the 
 Correfpondence of ray Friends , upon 
 whofe Integrity and Judgment , I can 
 fully rely. 
 
 I will not prétend to infïft upon the 
 Motives which induced the Czar to En- 
 gage in fo Extraordinary an Undertaking, 
 itbeing agreed on ail hands. that as his 
 Defîgn was to build the Frame of the 
 prefent Ruffian Monarchy upon a much 
 more folid Foundation, than it was in for- 
 mer times, lo he judged nothing could 
 mofe conduce to obtain this GreatEnd, 
 than if he. fhould take this Opportunity, 
 of being infornfd in Perlon concerning 
 thefe Maxims, which hâve rendred forae 
 of the Europe an States, fo fiourifhing in 
 pur Age. ‘ 
 
 For, whereas the Ruffian Monarchs ufed 
 to make the Ignorance of their Sübjefts 
 the Main Foundation-ftone of their Au- 
 thority ; io it is obvious to every unbyaf- 
 fed Peifonp that his prefent Majefiy looks 
 upon the Improvements of ail Arts and 
 Sciences, and the Eftablifiiment of a re- 
 
 t ular Difcipline, as the Main Pillars of 
 îe Greatnefs of this Monarchy. 
 
 It was in the Profecution of this Grand 
 Defign he appear’d, though Incognito, in 
 England and Holland -, and after having 
 Ispsfy’d himfelf in thofe Matters which 
 were 
 
of the Mufco vite Empire . . 
 
 •vvere the Chief- Subjeft of his Curiofoy, 
 ne refblved to vifit likewife the Imperia! 
 Court of J r ienna , where he arrived with 
 the Mufcovite Embaify, towards the iatter 
 ëna of Jiine laft paft. 
 
 Hë had icarce been a few days in this 
 City, when he received Letters from A- 
 foph, That part bf that Garrifon, tothe 
 Numbet of betvifixt feven and eight 
 Thoufand Men , having receiv’d Intelli- 
 gence, That the Tœrtars had put a great 
 Number of their beft Horfes in the cir- 
 cumjacent Paftures, under the Guard of 
 three thoufand Men, were marched out 
 againft them, had defeated the Guard , 
 and brought near thirty thoufand Horfes 
 into Afopb. ■* 
 
 Thefe Letters were in a few days afcer 
 folio wd by an Exprefs frcm Mufccvy , 
 with an Account, That the Remainders. 
 of the an tient AÂufcovite Guards ( whom 
 they call Strelltz.es ) had Mutiny’d , un- 
 der Pretence of Want of Pay ; and that 
 being join’d by fome others, were mar- 
 ched towards Mufcow, the Capital City 
 of the whole Empire, with an Intention 
 to Surprize and Ranfack the Place. The 
 Strelitzes, who formerly might be compa- 
 red to the Janifaries cf the Turks, had 
 given, fuch frequent proofs of their Bar- 
 bar ity and Crueity againft the Inhabitants 
 of this City, upûn fuch like Occafions, 
 that many of them being terrified^ by fo 
 unexpe&ed a Revoit in the Czars Ab- 
 fence, left their Habitations, and a gene- 
 ral 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 ral Confternation had feifed the whole 
 Empire, as dreading the Effets of the 
 Fury of thefe Infolent Soldiers. 
 
 The Princes Lojf Kerilvitz , Nariskin 
 Procorofskoi, and Boris Alexiovitz Gallikiri, 
 who had the Supream Adminiftration of 
 the Government during the Czafs Abfence, 
 were not wanting in their Duty, to en- 
 courage the Inhabitants both byWords, 
 and their own Example.; and that nothing 
 might be wanting on their fide, to reduce 
 this rebellious Crew to their Duty, fent 
 fome of the Nobility, back cl by a good 
 number of Troops, to endeavour to ap- 
 peafe their Fuyy ; but they were fo far 
 fiom hearkning to the Propolîtions offered 
 them by the Deputies of the Governours, 
 that they fired at them, and forced them 
 to retire to the City; 
 
 Thus ail fair means provihg ineffeftual. 
 General Gourion was fent out with a good 
 Body of faithful Troops, Commanded for 
 the mnll part by foreign Officers, who 
 meeting with the Rebels, as they were 
 advanced within four Leagues of Afufcow, 
 Attaclfd, and total'ly Routed them, kil- 
 ling many of them upon the Spot, and 
 carry the reit Prifoneis to' the City, 
 where many of them receiv'd after'wards 
 the due Reward of. their Treachery. 
 
 The Czar being over-joyed at thef>uc- 
 cefs of his Amis againit thefe Mutineers, 
 fefolved not only to daÿ for foine time ac 
 this Court, biît alfo t© continue his Jour-, 
 ney f om hence to Viemce, before his 
 V- jRè- 
 
ofthe Muicovite Empire. 79 
 
 Return into Mufcovy. I hâve hinted to 
 you befcre, the Chief Motive which in- 
 duced His Cnarijh Majefly to undertake 
 fo long -and dangerous a Journey ; but 
 befîdes this, there may be alledged ano- 
 tlier, having a peculiar Refpeél to the 
 Impérial Court. For the Mufcovites, hav- 
 ing by the Conqueft of Afoph, opened 
 themfelves a Gâte into the Palm Meotis, 
 and confequently into the BlacJ^Sea, had 
 ali the Reafon in the World to promife 
 themfelves the entire Conqueib of the 
 Crim-Tartarj , and the Tartarian PeninfuU 
 it felf, if the War fhould be carried on 
 but for two years longer by the Confede- 
 rates againft the Infidels, there being no- 
 thing but the Cities of Precop, Crim and 
 Caffa^ places of no great Strength, which 
 could make any confiderable Refiflance* 
 and prevent them from making themfelves 
 Mafters of ail the Coaft from - 4 foph t to 
 the mouth of the River Borjftbenes , where 
 they had already got firm footing, by the 
 Conqueft of the Fortrefs of Kafikermeen , , 
 in the Year 1695, and the Submilfion of 
 many of the ^ Cojfacks^ upon the F rentiers, 
 to the Czafs Obedience. His Czarijh 
 Majefty, who from the beginning of his 
 War with the Turks, had had no lefs in 
 view, than the reducing of theie Places, 
 and making himfelf Maiter of the Blackr 
 Sea, had , before his departure out of 
 /vfafcovj, made ail the neceflàry Prépara- 
 tions for the promoting of fo Great a De- 
 %n. He had not only ftrengthned the 
 City 
 
The pre fent Condition 
 
 City of Ajoph by Tome new Fortifications, 
 and ere&ed a ftrong Fortrefs at Tome 
 fmall diftance from thence, but had cauf- 
 ed a new Port to be made for the Con- 
 veniency of his Navy. This Great Prince, 
 who perfe&ly undedfcands the advantage- 
 6us Situations of his Dominions for Com- 
 merce, ( one of the Main Piliars ofthe 
 Profperity of. the Commonwealth, } has, 
 ever fince his Accefiion to the Throne, 
 îefc no ftone unturn’d, to improve it to 
 the utmoft Advantage. 
 
 It is to the Mufcovites , Europe ftands 
 indeBted for the Difcovery of the Way 
 by Land into China ; and by the frequent 
 Embafly fent bÿ the prefent Czar into that 
 Country, the Way through the Great-Tar - 
 tary is as well or better known to the 
 Ruffians , than fome Provinces of their 
 own Empire. Several goodly Cities and 
 Villages hâve been built for the Conveni- 
 ency of the Mffcovite Garevans, and a 
 vaft Tract of Ground has been incorpora - 
 ted with the Ruffian Empire. 
 
 It is incredibie of what Conlequences 
 the China Trade by Land, is to the Maf- 
 awites , who by the Help of their Sleds 
 drawn by Renes in the Winter-time, per- 
 form this great Journey with much Ex- 
 pédition, Many of the Vagabond Tartars , 
 incited by the Induftry of the Mufiovite 
 Merchants trading in thefe parts , hâve 
 quitted their Solitudes, and hâve fettJed 
 themfelves in Siberia , and fome other Pro- 
 vinces of Mufcovy, wbich vvere fcarce in- 
 habit ed 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 81 
 
 habited within thefe hundred years. The 
 Communication betwixt Mufccvy and 
 fome part of the Indies , as weil as the 
 Perfian Empire, by help of die Cafpian- 
 Sea, as it is obvions to every body 
 that wili but caft an Eye upbn the 
 Maps, fo it is no iefs advantageous to 
 the Rn[fiay.s than the China Trade. The 
 Banajans ( the moft Trading Pc-ople of 
 ali the Indies) liave a very conikLiablè 
 Settlement in the City of AJirr.c . the 
 Boundary of Europe and- Afin en that 
 .iîde ) from whence they furnifti Mufco- 
 vy wirh. ali x the moft precious Things 
 the Indies afford, and by the continuai 
 paifage of Merchants and others, trading 
 from the City of Mufcovo to Afiracan, 
 and other places upon the Wolga , the 
 Çountry betwixt the Ocea and Wclga 
 is better ftor’d with Villages and Inhabi- 
 tants, than many of phe moft Fertile Pro- 
 vinces of Europe. 
 
 The C-tar Peter Alexiovitz, was as 
 well before, as in his late Journty, fuf- 
 ficiently convinced, that ail thefe Advan- 
 tages were but imperfeft in refpect of 
 what mjght be hoped for, if by o- 
 pening his way into the BlacI^Sea, lie 
 could lettle a Communication with Italy , 
 and fome other provinces of Europe , 
 by which means the Riches, of China, 
 of the Indies and Per fia , might be con- 
 veyed this way, to the no fmall Bene- 
 ftt of the Mufcovite $. . 
 
 G The 
 
Theprefent Condition 
 
 The Conqueft of Afoph h ad operied 
 him the way to attain thîs end without 
 any great _ difficulry -, confidering the 
 prefent declining State of the Ottoman 
 Empire , and the flourijOhing Condition 
 of Mufcovy, if he could prevail with 
 his Impérial Majefty to continue the 
 War a few years longer againft the In-, 
 fidels. Ic is ag./eed on ail fides, That his 
 Impérial Majefty lhew’d as miich incli- 
 nation towards continmng, the War with 
 the Turks, titan the Czar himfelf, and 
 tvoüld hâve been as fofward as any of 
 the Confedefates to fécond the lauda- 
 ble Zeal of His C^anjh Majefty, if the 
 preftnt conjoncture d.ud nôt obliged'him 
 to prefer the Idteieft of his Country 
 before his Inclinations, at a time, when 
 tlte Infidels made fuch confiderable Gf- 
 fers to the Confédérales for the obtain- 
 ing a Truce or Peace. 
 
 Eor, befides that, by the Animofiries 
 Reigning in PoUni, üiat King was not in a 
 Condition to give any confiderable diverfiôn 
 to the Turks, the Subjetts of the Hereditary 
 Counries of his Impérial Majefty being 
 exhaufted by the heavÿ Taxes, requi- 
 fite for the carryifig on ftEchargeabie a 
 War, ftood in abfolutc need of fouie 
 Refpite to take breath, and the totter- 
 ing State of. the King of Spahi s health, 
 was a fufficie'nt warhing to the Imperia) 
 Court to be jfrjpbii their Guard again {{France, 
 where vaft Préparations were made to back 
 their daim to that Crown by Force. 
 
 Thefe 
 
of j^Mufoo vite Empire. 82 
 
 Thefe were the true reafons that in- 
 duced his Imparial Majefty to confent 
 fome Mcnths after, to a Truce of 25 
 years with ' the Ottotyan Port , wherein 
 the Czar of Mufcovy was included ; but 
 chofè tp accept of the famé only for 
 two years, for certain F ealons of State, 
 
 I iliall hâve occafton to mention to y ou 
 anon. 
 
 On the 29th day of Jane, his Ccvrijh 
 Majefty had a private Audience f ora the 
 Emperour , and defîring to be Ixognito , 
 he was conduéled by a pair of Back-ltairs, 
 to the. Emperour s Antjchambrr, where he 
 was received by his Impérial Majefty in 
 Perfon at thedoor ; no body was admittéd 
 to be prefent at this Audience befides the 
 Gount Wallenjtem , Lord Eigh Chamberlain, 
 and the Count of Dieterïchjlein., Malfer of 
 the Horfe to the Emperour ; the Czar was 
 accompanied up Stairs only by the General 
 Le Fort, his firll Ambafïadour, who fup- 
 püed the place of an Interpréter betwixt 
 thele two Uluftrious Berfonages at this In- 
 terview. 
 
 After the firft Compléments werejpafs’d, 
 the Emperour put on his Hat, but finding 
 that the Czar remain’d uncovered, he al- 
 fo took off his Hat again, and remained 
 thus tiif the Interview, which laited about 
 half . an Hour, was pafs’d. 
 
 Some day s after, the Czar took an exaét 
 View of the Impérial Aripory , Library, 
 and other Rarities belonging to the Impé- 
 rial Pallace, and the Emperour being fen- 
 62 fible 
 
84 The prefent Condition 
 
 fible of the Czar’s Inclinations towards 
 the Mathematicks, fent 4fim a Prefent ef 
 the choiceft Mathematical Inftruments that 
 could be found. 
 
 He likewife invited the Czar to a very 
 fplendid Entertainment, which began with 
 a moft Admirable Confort of Mufick, and 
 after a Magnificent Collation, ended wich 
 a certain kind of Mafquerade, call’d in 
 Germany , a TVirtbJhaft , freqtiently to be 
 feen in the Courts of the Germàn Princes, 
 where the *M'àfter of the Feaft alvvays re- 
 prefents the Perfon of a fioft ; no body 
 but perfons of the firft Rank of both Sexes 
 being admitted to this Divérfion. 
 
 In this, each Masker was ciad after the 
 Falhion of fôme different Nation, with a 
 Lady in an Habit anfwerable to the famé 
 Nation, fo that the moft remarkable Na- 
 tions of the World, being reprefented by 
 this illuftrious Company, adcrn’d with the 
 Richélt Stuffs, and a prodigious quantity 
 of precious Stones, it afforded a moft un- 
 ufual, but at the famé time, moft Mag- 
 nificent and agreeable Spectacle, to the 
 Czar. 
 
 To be fihort, this Court, to fhew t’neir 
 vitmoft Refpeét to fo Extraordinary a 
 Oueft, ftrove to' out-vye ail the reft which 
 His Majefty had.vifited before ; There 
 was nothing but Jollity and Feaftingto 
 be feen, during his Stay at Vtema ; and 
 among others, the Count of Starenbergh , 
 General of the Emperour’s, Armies, fig- 
 «aliad himfelf on this Occasion, having . 
 
 invited 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 8 5 
 
 invited the ümr and his Ambaffadours, 
 with ail the Perfons of Quality of both 
 Sexes, then at Vienna , to a moft fplendid 
 Feaft. 
 
 The Czar in his Turn, took the oppor- 
 tuniry of St. Peter s Day, to Entertainthe 
 Principal Lords and Ladies of the Court, 
 at the Pallace of Gmterfdorff \ where the 
 Mitfcovite Ambaffadours were lodg'd ; 
 the Empereur £ Iemniz'd the famé by an 
 Artificial Fire-Wprkj and a fine Confort 
 of Mufick. 
 
 Towards the latter end of July, the 
 Aïufcovite Ambaftadours had their publiçk 
 Audience of His Impérial Majefty, which 
 was very fplendid, efpecially in refpeft of 
 the ri ch Prefents defign d for the Empe- 
 rour, which confifted in the moft precious 
 Eimines, and Sables, and Cioths of Gold 
 and Silver, born by fifty Perfons, Clad ail 
 inblackVelvet. They werereceiv'd at their 
 Entrance into the outward Court by the 
 Guards in Arms, and after being admitted 
 to the Audience of the Emperour with 
 the ufual Ceremonies, were moft fplendid- 
 ly Treated at Court, and recondufted 
 to their own Pallace. 
 
 It was but a few days after, when the ■ 
 Czar, having taken a Refolution to go to 
 Vemce, in order, as it was fuppofed, to 
 concert Matters with that Repubiick, hovv 
 beft to annoy the Turks at Sea , he fent 
 foroe of his Train and Eqtiippage before. 
 
 The Ve net tant were no fooner inform'd of 
 His Majefty ’s ilefolution, but they appoint - 
 
 G 3 ed ’ 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 ed four Procurators of St. Mar^ , to re- 
 ceive and attend him. They ordered the 
 neceflary Carnages to the Frontiers, and 
 the Pailace of Tofcari in tbe Arfenal, was 
 to be fitted up for his Receiption. But 
 when every body expedted to hear of the 
 Czar s Departure fer Vemce, great was 
 tlieir Surprize when they underftood, that 
 he had taken his Leave on a iudden of the 
 Emperour, and; was return’d with only 
 t’nirty of his moft Trufly Servants, ( arrong 
 whom were General Le Fort . and Fedor 
 Alexiovitz Gallowin , his two Ambalfa- 
 dours ) by the VVay of Fol uni into Muf- 
 covy , leaving Procofet Bogdnnovîtz Wolnit^ 
 zin, his third Ambafladour at Vienna, as 
 his Plenipotentiary, to manage his Inte- 
 relt at the approaching Treaty befwixt 
 the Confeâerates and TurPf. 
 
 You Way eafily fpppofe, that the whole 
 Court was not a little amazed atthisun- 
 expected Change of the Czar' s former 
 Refolution , every' one judging of the 
 Matter acçording to his Opinion, but the 
 Generality attributing it to fome great 
 Commotion in Mujcovÿ , the Truth of 
 which ’vâs not confiim’d to us, till fome 
 time aftêr. 
 
 I told you before, that feon afeer his 
 Czar ïjh Majefy’s arrivai at- Vie an a, he re- 
 ceiv'd the News of a Revoit among the 
 Strelitzes in ALnfcovy J and of their Defeat 
 by General Gourdon , which made the Czar 
 take a Refolution to go to Venicc before his 
 Return into Mufcovy ; but the event has 
 {: fliev/n 
 
of the Miifcôvite Empire, 87 
 
 fhewn fince, that the.y were not fo entire- 
 ly diiperfed, but that their Party appear’d 
 very formidable , notwithftanding their 
 laft Rour. For by the Confeifion of fom'e 
 of the Rebels that were put to the 
 Rack, they were back'd in this Enterprize 
 iiot only by the Princefs Sophia, the prefent 
 Czar’s Sifter, but alfo by a great many of 
 the Nobility, who had been difguftcd at 
 the Czar’s Sevevity againft (orne of their 
 Kiudred, and by a confiderabîe Part of 
 the Ârmy upon tire Prontiers oi Poland. 
 
 The Princefs Sopbia, with her Adhé- 
 rents, taking the Advantage of the Czav s 
 Abfence, left no itone untnrn’d to infinu- 
 ate into the People, that he had over- 
 furn’d the whole Frame of .the Antient 
 Rujfiaa Government , by reducing the 
 Standing Forces of the Strclttz.es to foin- 
 confiderable a Number, and depriving 
 them of their moft antient Priviledges, in 
 lieu of which, he had fet over them a 
 great number of foreign Officers , who 
 were hisahfolute Favourites, and Dorm- 
 neer’d over the Natives at pleafure. 
 
 That the Chief aim of his Journey in- 
 ‘ to foreign Parts, ,was to bring along w.ith 
 him fuch a Number of Fcreigners , as 
 fliould be able fo enùrely to fubdu.e the 
 antient Ncbility of the Empire,. as tp be 
 paît ali hopes of recovering their former 
 Priviledges and Dignity. 
 
 The: e wevqalfo fome enicng the Cler- 
 gy, who heing jealous of îhe Çzar s Fa- 
 veur tovvards thefe Foreigners, that were 
 G 4 ' not 
 
The prefent Condition 
 
 not of the Greek. Cluirch, blew up the 
 coals, clamoiirîhg with great Zeal to their 
 Auditors, That their Religion was in moft 
 imminent Danger, by the Encouragement 
 given to Foreigners of another Religion, 
 who, âs they were the Inftrumeiits of o- 
 verturning the antient Foundation of the 
 State, ;fo they vvould in time prove the 
 utterRuine of their Religion. 
 
 ; To tins it was added, That the Czar 
 being at prefent in far difï'ant Countr ies, 
 they could roc wifh for a more feafonable 
 Opportunity to recover their Lois, by 
 putting the Government irtto the hands of 
 the Princefs Scfhia, which' of Right be- 
 longedto her in the Czar’s Abfence, and 
 which fhe had -manàged' with (o much 
 Dexteritv during her Brothers Minority. 
 
 Thefe Infinuatibns were fo prevaiiing 
 with many, that they had brought- over to 
 their Partÿ, noc only the Strentz.es, and 
 other MalecôtîtentS'' of the Nobiiity, who 
 were ieady at ail times ro join agamil the 
 Czar, but alfo fomeof the bead of .the 
 Cleigy, many of the Chief of the Arrayv 
 a'ndamong them the General thatCom- 
 mandedupon the Fronts eïs of Luimanla] 
 as’likewife fome Lords and Courtiers of the 
 firft Rank, who were alvvays look'd 
 upon as abfohiteiy devoted to the Czar s 
 IhterelL 
 
 Notice having bcen given to the Czar of 
 thefe Cabals againft his Perfon and Go- 
 vernment, when he was juif upon his de- 
 parture for Venise, this obii ed hirn to 
 • al ter ' 
 
-çf the Mufcovite Empire . 8p 
 
 alrer his Refolution , being fènfible 
 that the fureft meafures he couid 
 take at fuch an extraordinary Junélure^ 
 were to endeavour todiveitby his Royal 
 Prefence , the Storm that threatned the 
 deftrû&ion of his Government in his Ab- 
 fence; 
 
 According to this Refolution, hetook 
 the nearell way thvough Roland, with a 
 few of his faithful Friends, and after a 
 Stay of three days at Rava near Leofold, 
 where he had an Interview with his Rolîjb 
 Maje'ly about M^tters of great Moment, 
 efpeciaily conçerning the approaching 
 Treaty with the Turks ; he continue d his 
 Journey with fo much expédition, that he 
 appear d in Mufçovy, when his Enemies 
 believ’d him tohave been at Venice. 
 
 His fo unexpe&ed Appearance , as it 
 fil bd ali his faithful Sübjeéls with Joy, 
 fo it lbruck fuch a Tevrour into the Re- 
 bellicus Party, that being theieby bereav’d 
 of ail hopes of Succeis, they , durll 
 not as much as make any Attempt to put 
 their projeefed Defign in execution. 
 
 His CzAriJh Majefty haying in the mean. 
 while, taken a f ni Refolution, te lirike 
 at the Root of tins Rébellion, and to era- 
 diefate Root and Branch this Faèfious 
 Crew of the StreV-tzes , above two chou- 
 fond of them were eXecuted in figbt of 
 tlie Princefs Sipbla , ali the reib being ba- 
 nifhed into Sibsrla, and feme other re- 
 mote Provinces ; Many of the Nobiljtÿ, 
 of which number were Prince Cclorin , and 
 
 the 
 
O 
 
 The- préfet Cmdition ; 
 
 the General Ror/iamiokowski , with lèverai 
 Ladies of Quality, Tome Ëryers, and other 
 Piiefts of the firft Rank, were fome Ema- 
 pâl’d, 'foine broken upon the Wheei, o- 
 thers buried alive. 
 
 ï dont qnelt ion but dut you wili look 
 upon theie Tran fa étions of the Czar, as 
 favouring of too much Sevtrity, both in 
 'refpeél of the Nom ber and Qualiry of 
 thofë on ^wliom thefe Rigorous PunijÇh- 
 rnents were infhéted ; but if you wili 
 call to mind the réitéra ted Confpiracies, 
 carried on by this Party ever fnce his ■ 
 Ckarijh Majefty’s Acceffion to the Crown, 
 both againft his Perfon and Government, 
 you wili, I am apt to beiieve, be obligée! 
 to own, that what was done upon this 
 Account by the Czar, was no; an Efreét 
 of his Natural Difpohtion, vvhich is in no 
 Wife inclinable to Cruelty, but muft be. 
 attributed to the prefent Llrgency of tîic 
 A flairs of the State, which required, that 
 thofe Members, who a frer ail the Leni- 
 tives had been made ufe of in vain, tpf 
 allay tlieir malignant Humours, \v**re now 
 to be treated with Çorrohves, and fuch as - 
 were qui te degenerated into an incurable 
 Gangrené, muft be feparated- from the 
 reiî, : bÿ •cutting.cff the infeéled Parts. , $ . 
 
 : You canhot be ignorant that fince his. 
 Majefiy’s return into Myfcf&y.jà Truce iras 
 been conduded with the Tïiïks for 25' 
 yeàrs, in rc r pcé> of his Impérial. NUjciiy 
 and the G: own of Pdand, but for tvyo 
 yeafs onîy v, ith -his. Czarijib Majcily. The . , 
 r becwixt his C\ari/i> Majefty and the 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire . 
 
 Turkijb Sultan, was fign'd under the Tents 
 near Carlowitz, December the 2 yth, 1698, 
 by Procofet' Bogianavitz, Wolmtzsn, as Ple- 
 nipotentiary and Ambafladour Extraor- 
 dinaiy of the Czar of Mufcovy, and Me- 
 hemed Kami, and Alexander Mauro Corda- 
 ti de Scarlati, as Plenipctentiaries of the 
 Ottoman Port, confifting in thefe three fol- 
 lowing Articles. 
 
 r. That by Vertue of this Treaty, a 
 Truce is concluded betwixt tliefe two 
 Potent Empire for two years, tobegin 
 from the i5th dày of December , S. NÎ 
 1698. And that in the tnean while, ail 
 poitible Endeavours fhall be ufed on both 
 Hdes, to re-fettle a perfeft Amity and 
 good Underllanding betwixt both Parties,' 
 either by a firni and perpétuai Peace, or 
 the prolongation of this Truce for a long- 
 er fpace of Years. 
 
 2. That in the mean time ail A&s of 
 Fôftility under what Pretence foever. Pi a 11 
 be forborn, and ali Animoiîties laid afide 
 betwixt both Parties. 
 
 3. That the Ckan of Crirn-Tartary fhall 
 be comprehended in this Truce, who in 
 the mean while, fhaü be obliged to prc- 
 vent ail Excurfions on his lide. And ef- 
 fectuai Care is to be taken on both iides, 
 that none of the other %marian Mords , 
 or any of the Cojfacf , as wdl thofe under 
 the Mufcovite as Ottoman Jurifdiction, may 
 commit any Hoftilities or Déprédations, 
 fuch of the beforementioned Tartars or» 
 Cojfacks ( whecher Mufcovite s or Turf ) 
 
9? 
 
 Tl. e prejent Condition 
 
 tint fhall in any wife violate ora&.con- 
 trary to this Article, being to be exem- 
 plary punifhed by their refpe&ive So- 
 vereigns... 
 
 I am apt to imagine, that confidering 
 the fmall Space or Time concluded in 
 thisTreaty for tiieTruce betwixt thefe two 
 Potent Pnnces, it wiil be Icük’d upon a~ 
 njong y on, who Iive at fo great a di- 
 ftance, as a Politick Contriyance of this 
 Court and that of Voland , to wipe ofFthe 
 Blerni-ih of deferting fo Potent an Ally, 
 w ho» lus giyen fo confidevabie a Diverfion 
 to tire Turks , .during lome Ÿears of this 
 War ; but I do not quellion befdre I corne 
 ro che Conçiufîon; of thisLetter, to. make 
 it apparent, that as the vvhole was tranf- 
 acted by his C^arijh Majeitys Orders and 
 good liking, fo the- famé is feunded upon 
 a moft foiid and refined R ea forts of State, 
 on die fide of the Mufcovites. 
 
 I toîd you before, That the Czar of 
 Afufcovj, having_ by the Conqueft of the 
 City of Afoph, litüate fo near the Palm 
 A'fiotis, not only opened his Way into the 
 BLu^Sea, but alfo to the entire Conquell 
 of the Crîm-Tartary, and the whole Pe- 
 mnfttla, as far as to the BorjJlhexes it felf, 
 had ali the Reafon in the World, to be de- 
 firous of the Continuance of the War a- 
 gai.nft the Turks \ and that this was one of 
 .jhe Chief Motives of his Journey to the 
 (Court of Venna, 
 
 But 
 
nf ike Mufco vi te Empire . _ 
 
 - Bue lus CzArijh Majefty being made fuf 
 ficiently fenfiole, that at this jùntture of 
 time, the Confédérales , without great 
 Préjudice to their ovvn întertll , coèfâ 
 not rèfufe tire Advantageons Proportions 
 ofFered by the Turks, he couid notpitch 
 upon a Getter Expédient than thisTmce 
 of two years, to accomplifi? Siis Great 
 Dehgn of either making hinueif Malfer 
 of the B/ack-Sca , or at 1er, il to oblige 
 tbe Turks to grant his Subjeéts a free 
 Trade in their Ports, fer the Conveniency 
 of Tranfporting the China, Indian, Per- 
 ■Jim, and Ruffian Commodities into Italj, 
 and other Parts of Europe. 
 
 This will be manifeif, if we make a 
 due romparifon betwixt the prefent po- 
 fture of Affairs, betwixt the Turks and 
 Alufcovites on that fîde. For, not to 
 mention here the prefent fiourifhing State 
 of the Mufcovite Empire, and the dedi- 
 ning Condition cf the Turks in general, 
 it is moft évident, rhat the Ottomans lie 
 under no fina’l Difadvantages, in refpect 
 of the Aiufcovites on that hde. 
 
 The Afùfcovites b y the late Conquefts 
 upon the BorjJihenes and Palus APiotis, by 
 the Submilfion of thé Cùffac\s and Circaj- 
 Jian Tvrtars, by lfrengthn.ing the oid, and 
 eré&ing lèverai new Fbrrrefles in theie 
 Parts, liave fo ftrengthned their Frohtieis 
 thereabouts, that they feem to be înpe- 
 netrable , coufidering the powerful 
 Succours . they are able to fend to ihe 
 Relief of any place that fhaîl be attaché 
 
94 - The prefent Condition 
 
 by the Turks ; the Mafcwite Armies by 
 the introdu&ion of a regular Martial 
 Difcipline among them , <and the vaft 
 • Number of well qualified foreign Officers, 
 who cômmand them, being atleaft equal, 
 if noc fuperiour to the Turkifb Jamfaries 
 themfeives, the Flovver and Main ltrength 
 of their Armies, which alfo has been ré- 
 el uced to a much lefs number, by the Mif- 
 fortunes they hâve fufFered in the l it 
 War againft the Ghriftians. 
 
 It is’ furtheemefte to be confidered, • that 
 the Turhy havtng bîthçrto look’d upon the 
 M;ifeovites- as fo inconfiderable, that the 
 Crim-Tartnry was thought a fuiîicient Bul- 
 wavk againft them, their Fortrefles and 
 Maritime Towns, though of the gteateft 
 Confequence to them, in refpeâ of main- 
 tainihg the Dominion of the Black^Sea , 
 hâve been negle&ed ; whereas by the Vigi- 
 lancy of his prefent Czarifh Majefty, the 
 Mafcovite Frontiers are in a better State - 
 than any of his other Dominions, by the 
 Addition of feveval regulav Fortifica- 
 tions. ■ 
 
 The Naval Strèngth of Mufcovy , tho : 
 fcarce worth mentioning a few years ago, 
 has by the indefatigable Care of the pre- 
 fent Czar Peter Âlexiovit zj been eftablifh- 
 ed upon fo good and firm a Foundation, 
 tint the famé is incomparabiy fuperior to 
 the TurQfh Fieet ( wltich has been batter’d 11 
 fo often by the Veneüans of late) both in 
 refpeft of number ofShips, and the good- 
 uefs x>f their- Seamen and Commanders, > 
 
 o£ 
 
9 
 
 of the M uico-v i te Empire. 
 
 of which iail, the Çz.ar has taken a con- 
 i ide râble namber into his Service, during 
 his ftay.in thefe Parts. 
 
 The Tieaty betwixt the Chritlians and 
 Turks being chiefly built upop tnis Foi:n~ 
 dation, that Mattéis Ihould remain among 
 ail Parties in Statuo-quo , his Ckr: :Jb Majefty 
 had littie profpeft of obtainmg the Do~ 
 minion over the Blac^-Sea, or a free Com- 
 merce in the Turlffh Ports by a. long Truce, 
 which wouîd ha'Ve given tire Turks leifure 
 to recover Breath, aiid to ifrengthen their 
 Fomefies and Maritime Places on that 
 iide 5 whereas twô years cannot be j’udged 
 in an} wife a proportions ble time requi- 
 iite for to put themfelves in a State of 
 defence againft io Forent a Neighbour as 
 the Czar of Muftovj is at prefent ; fo 
 that at the expiration of thefe two years, 
 his C^urijb Majefty has ali the Probabiiity 
 on his fide to obtain his airn, either by 
 the prolongation of this Truce, or force cf 
 Arm?. 
 
 That this is his Czarifh Majèfly’s deiîgn, 
 feems fufficiently probable to me firent his 
 vaft Préparations at Sea, being informed 
 ■front very good hanris, that h e has at Ve- 
 rom za oniy near fouity ifout Men of War, 
 ready to put to Sea, noft of which cavry 
 betwixt Hfty a n A fixty G uns, ' beüdes 
 thirtÿ more which are to be rcady and lit 
 for Service againif the next Spring, and 
 a propotrionable number of Great and 
 fmall Gallies, Maifd for the moit pars 
 with fbreign Marincrs, vey E>.ya:;.; in cké 
 
p6 The prefent Condition 
 
 Sea-fervice. What Force are the Turks 
 able to oppofe at rhis time againft fuch a 
 Naval Strength, when they hâve not been 
 able to cope with -the Venetians at Se'a in 
 this la 11 War-. ? I arü not ignorant that 
 fome of our Politicians in this Court are 
 of Opinion, that when, bythe intended 
 Canal betwixr the two Riyers, Wolga and 
 Z>o«, a Communication is made with the 
 Ca/pian-Sea, the Ç<œr maÿ with more 
 Conveniency entend his Conquefts that 
 way ; but confldering, that the Ca/pia; i- 
 Sea has few gocd Ports , and that the 
 Aïufcovite T erritories are feparated by 
 Land by vaft Défaits front Per fia , and 
 that there is a ftrift Correfpondence be- 
 twixt thefe two vaft neighbouring Em- 
 pires, founded npon the Conveniency of 
 their mutual Commerce, I fee no great 
 Reafon why it may not be more reafona- 
 bly fuppofed, that, in café the Turks do 
 not by granting fiee Commerce to the 
 Mufcovites , after the expiration of this 
 two Years Trüce, prevenc the Storm, his 
 Czarifh Majefty fhould not turn his Arms 
 againft ihem, efpecially in the Blœcl^-Sea, 
 where every thing feems to flatter him 
 with hopes of Succefs and great Advan- 
 tageson his iide. 
 
 I am afraid I hâve been too tedious 
 in thefe Refleclions, wherefore I would 
 not dre your Patience, if I had not fome- 
 thing to add, before I corne to the Con- 
 cluiion of this Letter , concerning the 
 Granà-Tartary } and other Northern Coun- ' 
 tries, • 
 
of theMufco\itcEmpire, 
 
 tries, betwixt the River Obj and the Chi- 
 neje Wall > in the Description of which, 
 as ( the antient Geographers hâve labour’d 
 withfuch ill Succefs, and given lis their 
 own Inventions for Truth ; and the Mo- 
 dem Hiltorian s for the moft part, hâve 
 defcribed us inacceffible Défaits in lieu of 
 a weil inhabited Country ; fo , I reckori 
 it will notbe difagreeable to you, if I give 
 you fome Account of what I hâve been 
 able to learn concerning this Point, from 
 foraeof the raolt open-heaited and moit 
 ingenious among the Mufcovites , during 
 the Stay of the late Great Embaffy in this 
 Court. 
 
 I hâve told you before that the World was 
 beholding to the Mufcovites, for the dil- 
 covery of the Way by Land through rhe 
 Great-Tartdry into China. For the Way 
 by Land through India, and the Territo- 
 ries of the Great Mogul , being found ai- 
 moft impraticable by reafon of the vaft 
 Defarts ; the Inhabitants of Siberia , after 
 they had fubmitted to the Mufcovites , 
 furnifhed them with fufficient Opportuni- 
 ty to difcover the Way into China on that 
 fide. For thefe People being encouraged 
 by the Advantages of vending their Sa- 
 ble Martins to the Mufcovites at fo excef- 
 five a rate, as weîl as their black Fox- 
 Skins, fcarce ever known before in thofe 
 Parts, did, to fatisfie their Avarice, en- 
 gage themfelves in thofe far diftant Coun- 
 tries in queft of thefe Créatures, by which 
 H means 
 
9 8 
 
 The prefent Condition 
 
 means they were by degrees, and as' i,t 
 may be laid, mfenfibly broughtupon thofe 
 Roads which lead into China. 
 
 Aftèr the firft difcovery of thefe Roads, 
 the Aùifcuvhes did leave no ftone un- 
 ; turn'd, to rnake themfelves acquainted 
 . with the Countries that lie betwixt them 
 and the Chinefe Wall; for which purpofe 
 they ufed, under fome pretence or dther, 
 to fend frequent Meflengers into China, 
 vvho hâve taken divers Roads, and many 
 tunes making great Circumferences in 
 -their :Jourrieys, they by this means, in 
 procefs of Time, made ail the difcoveries 
 they couM wiih for. They difcovered 
 befides the Ofijakoi, Bratskpi , and Tungo- 
 efes, who hâve their Habitations near the 
 Rivers which border upon Siberia , tliree 
 different forts of Tartars, very remarka- 
 ble for the vaft extent of thofe Coun- 
 tries they are poffefs'd of ; \to wit : The 
 Tartars of Bogdoi , the Mongul Tartars, 
 and the Calmtichs. 
 
 The firft are the famé which by the 
 Chinefes , are calfd , the Eajtern-Tartars : 
 Their Country is of a vaft extent, en- 
 clofed betwixt the Eaftern Seas and the 
 Rivers Chingala and Tamour . Tliey were 
 the firft that many Ages aço , entred 
 China, but now are Tributaires to that 
 Empire ; which makes them much more 
 civilizd than the reft of the Tartars, by 
 reafon of their great Commerce with the 
 Chinefes ; the Rivers of Tamur and Cbin- 
 
oftïe Mufcovite Empire . < 
 
 gala, afîordîtig great ftore of Rübies and 
 Pearls, which fupply the defect of their 
 Çactlfc, -which is very fmall. They are 
 in their Bodiés not unlike to the Crffi- 
 Tartars , and both their Language and 
 Chara&ers not unlike the Perjtan , but they 
 write like the Chine [es, fromthe top down- 
 wards. Though they are not altogether 
 ignorant of Guns and Gun-powder, yet 
 not being well infornfd of ail the Ad- 
 vantages belonging to them, they make 
 bue leldom ufe of them, they are Go- 
 _ vern’d by feveral Ch an s. 
 
 To the Weft ef thefe Eaflern-Tartars, 
 are thofe of Mongul, inlubiting a fpaci- 
 ous Country, betwixt the River Tamour^ 
 China , TurqHeftan, and the Calmacks, from 
 whom they are divided by vaft Défaits. 
 They are Govem’d by three Princes, 
 who hâve each of them feveral other 
 Chant under their Jurifdi&ion. They are 
 call'd by the Chinefes , the fVeftern-Tar- 
 tars, and acknowledge in fome meafure, 
 the Authority of the Czars of A/ufcovj, 
 by reafon of the Neighbouvhood of Si- 
 beria, and fome other Countries there- 
 abouts, Subjeft to the Mujccvite Empiré, 
 with whom they keep Traffick in Cattle, 
 of which they hâve a great Plenty, this 
 Æonntry being very fuli of Rivers, good 
 ■Meadows and Paftorages. They are un- 
 acquainted with the ufe of Fire-Arms, 
 and inhabit néither Towns nor Villages. 
 
ioo The prefeht Condition 
 
 The CalmucJ^ Tartars poflèfs that vaft 
 Tract of Land, which lies betwixt thefe 
 Mongul Tartars and the River Wulga, as 
 far as to the Défaits of AJïracan ; they 
 are divided into many Hordes , each under 
 the Comnund of a particular Chan, yet 
 they acknowîedge one Principal Chan, 
 who deduces his Pedigree ffoni the Great 
 Tamerlan , and kee'ps a very Noble Court 
 after the Tartarian Manne r ; They hâve 
 no iixed Habitations no more than the 
 Mongols, but live in Tents very Commo- 
 dioully contrived As they ne ver ftay 
 long in a place, fo they are the quickelt 
 in the World at Encamping and Decam- 
 ping, which is the realon the Czars of 
 Mufcovy feek for their Alliance, by cer- 
 tain yearly Prefénts ; and thefe are very 
 ready to keep a good Correfpondence with 
 the AhiÇcovites , for the Convenièncy of 
 vending their Horfes and Slaves , which 
 they take from the other Neighbouring 
 Tartars. They are ail indining to an O- 
 live colour, their Eyes fmall but fpark- 
 ling , their Nofes fhort and fomewhat 
 fiat. Their Habits are for the moll part 
 the famé, being diftinguifhed only from 
 one another, by aTuftof Silk upon their 
 round Bonnets, according to the colour 
 of the Horde to whom they belong. 
 They wear only Sheep-Skins, lew J d ro- 
 gether in the nature of Vefts, with a Cord 
 round their Walle, whereon they fallen 
 their Bows and Quivers. 
 
 Vou 
 
of tke Mufcovite Empire, i o 
 
 You may eafily imagine, that when the 
 Mufcovites had once opened their Palfage 
 into thofe Parts, ic was no difficult Task 
 for thern, to fubdue thofe inhàbiting near 
 their Fiontiers by force of Arms, and by 
 the Terrer of their Strength, to fettle a 
 fàir Correfpondence with the reft ; fo that 
 followirg firft the Trafts of the Rivers 
 Obj, Schelinga, Genejfai and Tamour, they 
 built feverai Fortrefl'es upon the faid Ri- 
 vers, bothto feciire their Ce nquefts, and for 
 the more convenient Palfage of their Ca- 
 ravahs to China. 
 
 The laft Fottrefs, which the Mufcovites 
 built upon the River Tamour , is called 
 Albazàn , which, as it is not above a Months 
 Journey from Pekjng, the Capital of the 
 Chinefe Empire, fo it prov’d the occafion 
 of the late War betwixt the Chinefe s and 
 Mufcovites, which was carried on for fome 
 time with equal Vigour on both fides, till 
 at laft, the prêtent Czar Peter Alexiovitz 
 being made fenfîblé by Expérience of the 
 great Jncônveniences that attended this 
 War on his fide, in refevence to the vaft 
 diftancTe of thet'e Frontiers, which are fivé 
 or fix Months Mavch from the City of 
 Mufcow -, whereas on the other hand, the 
 Chinefes fend their Supplies with much 
 mofe Eafe, and infinité lefs Charge, by 
 ïëafori of the near nefs of the Eaftern -Tar- 
 tan, their Subjeéls i and the Czœr having 
 at the famé rime a ftrong Inclination to 
 corne to a Rupture with the Turh, at a 
 H 3 ‘ Jun- 
 
102 Theprefent Condition 
 
 Jun&ure when their Affaire were but in 
 an iil poilure, refolved to corne to an Ac- 
 commodation with the Cbinefes. .. 
 
 The firft meeting of the -AmbaiFadours 
 of thefe two Potent Empires upon the 
 Frontiers near Albazân, proved unfuccefs- 
 ful, the Cbinefes , according to their an- 
 tient Çuftotos, infifting upon fome Cere- 
 monies* that would not in any wife be 
 grantêd by the Mufeovites ; But the fé- 
 cond Treaty fucceeded according to wifh, 
 the Cbinefes being forced to abate of their 
 Pride, and to Treat the Afufçovite Am- 
 baffadours from that time, with ail the 
 Refpeft due to their Chara&er. 
 
 The Mufcwites having not till very 
 fately applied themfelves to the Sea, it is 
 no great wonder, if they hâve not neg- 
 lefied the Paffage by Water into China ; 
 by the Way of the Rivers Ôby, GeneJJai, 
 And Tamour; and in lieu theteof, hâve 
 ieft nothing unatteinpted to open their 
 Palîage thither by Land. Tis true, the 
 Beaps of Ice, which for the gréa tell part 
 of thé Year are to be met with at the En- 
 tvance of the River Obj, the rnany Water- 
 falls of the River Gmejfai, and the Bul- 
 rulhes which choak almoft up.the mouth 
 of the River T amour , are Obftacles , 
 which though they might hâve been- fur- 
 mounted by induftrious anjd.ej^e^t ..Sça- • 
 men, yet were fo terrifyirsg ço the Mnf-' 
 covites , as to bereave them of ail hopes of 
 
of the Mulcovite Empire .* 103 
 
 And to-'confefs the Truth, confidering, 
 the Method u(ed by the Ruffian Merchants 
 and Car av ans, and the good Order taken 
 for their convenient Paüàge through thefe 
 Parts, the famé contnbute not alittleto- 
 wards mitigating both the Trouble and 
 Charge of (o long a Journey. 
 
 They fet forward moft commonly 
 from the City of Mufcow in February, 
 when the Snow béing well beaten, they 
 travei in nineteen or twenty days, as fàr 
 as Tobolskpy , the Capital City of Siberia, 
 eight hundred Ênglifh Miles di- 
 ftant from the City of Mufcow. If it 
 happens to thaw about that time ( which 
 is very feldom) they tske the conveni- 
 ency of the Rivers on this and the other 
 fîde of the River Oby , by which means 
 they crofs the Country till they corne 
 to the Oftiakoi, the firft of the Eaftern-, 
 
 Tartars, Subjecf to the Cz>ar of Mufcovy. 
 
 But if the Froft continue, they go on by 
 Land the famé way, where they change 
 their Horfes for Rênes or Ram -de ers, 
 which carrÿ them with incredible fvvift- 
 nefs over the Snovv and Ice to the City 
 of Genefai, built by the Mxfcovites upon 
 the River of the famé Naine,'- for the con- 
 veniency of their Merçhanrs travelling 
 in thofe Parts i Kere it is they take Vei- 
 feîs which càrry them upon the Hivers 
 TtsnguJÎ and Angara, againft the Stream, 
 to the Lake of Baikala. 
 
 H 4 
 
 From 
 
The pnfent Condition 
 
 Fi'om this Lake , they either take 
 Shipping upon the River Sckelinga, as 
 far as to a City of the famé Name, 
 owing . likewife its foundation to the 
 Mnfcovites ; or elfe proceed in their 
 Way by Land, immediately after they 
 hâve croffd the beforementioned Lake, 
 through the Country pf the Mcngul Tar- 
 fàrs , who readiiy furnifh them' with 
 Mules and Diomedaries, to the Con- 
 fines of China. 
 
 But for the better undeifianding of 
 this Famous Paflage by Land, I vvill 
 ronclude this Lerter with giving you 
 the beft Account I co Id get, of fe- 
 rveral of the Alufcwitcs here , of the 
 Road lately taken by feveral Embaflys 
 fent into China. 
 
 They go fom Aiufcow to the Famous 
 Convint of Troitna, atout fixty Englijh 
 Miles ; f o n thenee to the City of Perejla, 
 as many Miles frpm Troitza. „ 
 
 From Perejla. they go to the City of Ro- 
 fiof J uxty Mues f om the lait, and fo 
 to rhe‘ City of Jerejla, near a hundred 
 and twenty Miles diftant fiom thenee. 
 
 Ffo m' Jérefla, they go to the Great 
 City of F/elcgàa, which lies pne hundred 
 and eighr.y Miles frpm the iaft. 
 
 Frpm this plaçe, ; they continue their 
 joùrney ' tp. the'Tmall City oiiTottma, 
 upon the River Wergno Sachant), and.fo 
 to ..ZJjiiuga , a confiderable Place upon 
 tjîe Ri\er Si-.chana ; fom tbe^fe to a 
 fmall 
 
of the Mufcovite Empire. 105 
 
 fmall City, call’d Lolomtzgotz, upon the 
 River Wietaegda , whicli oxonepates it 
 fêlf in the River Bruina. 
 
 About fifty Miles from thence, they 
 pafs through a great Forreft above fe- 
 ven hundred Miles long; after which 
 they corne to Kaigorod, a City upon the 
 Famous River Kama. 
 
 From Kaigorod , they proceed to So- 
 lokamskpy, a City upon the River Vfol- 
 sko, which thereabouts difcharges it felf 
 in the River Kama. 
 
 Thus they continue their Journey for 
 jone hundred and • twenty Miles with- 
 out any confiderable River , tili 
 they corne to the River Lufowa , 
 where they take Shipping for Vtzjogorod , 
 a goodly City, ,near three hundred and 
 fifty Miles diftant from Solokàmskpy. 
 
 From thence they go forward to fat, 
 a Town upon the River Ajat , and fo 
 by Romofhora, upon the River Rejh , to 
 Newagorod upon the River Newa , the 
 firft Town of Siberia. 
 
 From hence they pafs through a fer- 
 tile and well Peopled Country to the 
 Town of Zudna, lituate upon the Ri- 
 ver NietzA, to the Towns of Niginskpy, 
 
 Irbitskpy, Kirginskoy , Subrorawa and Ja- 
 lon?, the laft of which lies upon the 
 River Tara, where the River Newa dif- 
 charges it felf into the famé. 
 
 They 
 
i o6 The prefent Condition 
 
 They continue their Journey froiu 
 hence to the Town of Krafna, to die 
 City of Tumeen, and fo to the Town of 
 r Makpma upon the River Pijhina , where it 
 difcharges it feif into the River Tura\ 
 from tnence to the Town of Siltska , at 
 the confluence of the two Rivers Tara 
 and Tobol , the laft being on the right ; 
 which brings them to the City of 7o- 
 èclskoy, the Capital of Sièeria , fituate 
 upon the confluence of the two Rivers, 
 Jotifh and Tobol , the laft of which bas 
 given her its name. 
 
 From Tobolskgy, they continue thei^ 
 Journey thrdugh the Towns of DemUü 
 and Samurskpjam, and about two Miles 
 beyond the laft, tney meet with a Brandi 
 of the Famous River Oby, which brings' 
 them- to the City of Sur goto, and afcer- 
 vvards to the City of Narim, fituate up- 
 on the Banks of the River Oby. 
 
 Her e they quit this River,' and pro- 
 ceed to the River Kett, which brings them 
 to the Town of Kettfaay. 
 
 - From herree they go to AJakafÀoy, and 
 after they hâve travelled for two- days 
 and nights through a great Forreft, they 
 çome to the. City of Jeneskay , upon the 
 River Jeneskay, which is borh very Na- 
 vigable, and its Banks inhabited by the 
 QJUakfy ■ . •••' 
 
 After 
 
qf the Mufcovi te Empiré \ l 
 
 After they hâve continuée! their Joui- 
 ney for fome time upon this Rivei* 
 they leave it to the Right , and tafe 
 their way towards the River Tungunfi s 
 where abouts are the Habitations of the 
 Tmgefes -, which they ieave again to the 
 Right, and proceed in their Journey fô 
 the City of Ilimskpy, fituate on the Rr- 
 . ver Hit», the Country thereabouts beÿ-% 
 pretty well inhabited. A 
 
 After they hâve tra.velled three daÿs 
 and nights through a Forreft, they corne 
 to the River Angara, which brings thefri 
 to the City of Irkuskoy , fituate upon th‘è 
 River. 
 
 About thirty Miles from hence is thè 
 Lake of Baikala, where the River An- 
 gara has its hiil rife, being the utmoA 
 Boundary of Siberia. 
 
 From hence they continue their Joùr- 
 ney through the Towns of Kabarik , t 
 Bslskp-Saimckp , and Oftreg-ZJdir.skpy , in 
 the Province of Dater ta , inhabited by 
 Tartan, to the City of Jer amena, fituate 
 upon a Lake of the famé name.. 
 
 After they bave pafs’d this Lake, they 
 are forced to travel through a gréai 
 Défait , which is watered however bÿ 
 the River Vda, and at laft corne tô the 
 Lake called Svhacky-Ofcr , about two 
 Miles over ; then they corne to the Vil - 
 lage of Plcthttt, about a Mile from whence 
 the Rivers Tact a and Orna, fall intô the 
 River Ingeàt t, which from thencé for- 
 wa-rd 
 
îo8 Tkeprefrnî Condition 
 
 ward is called Schilka, and being aug- 
 mented by the two Ri vers Nertza and 
 Argma , produces that Famous River, 
 the Yamour. 
 
 From hence they go to the City of 
 Nertzinskpy , upon the River Nertza ; 
 being the laft Fortrefs upon thefe Fron- 
 tiers belonging to the Afafcovites. 
 
 ' Then they travel for near three weeks 
 thro Defarts, Forrefts, and Boggy-grounds, 
 till they corné to Argtma , a ftnall City 
 upon a River ofthe famé name, and 
 the laft Place under the Mafcovitc Jir- 
 rifdicHon in the Province of ’Ùattridl 
 Here they meet in their way wirh the 
 Rivers Derby, G arm, Kailar, and Sadmna, 
 àll which dilcharge themfelves into the 
 Argma, till they corne to the Source 
 of the River Jal , uhere they meer 
 • with the firft Oüt-gards of the Cbïr.efes , 
 being a very fertile and well peopied 
 Country, inhabited by the Targmjhini, 
 who are Pagans, Subjeél to China. 
 
 Through thefe they pafs to a Village, 
 called Smigarski , and from thence to 
 the City of Nam , three Miles diftant 
 from the former. From hence they pre- 
 cted in their Journey for feveral days, 
 -îhrough another Defart defticuce of any 
 Springs or other Water , till they corne 
 to the River Cafumur, . which difeharges 
 ft felf in - the River Nam. 
 
 They 
 
of the Mufcovi te Empire, i op 
 
 They pafs afterwards by the Ruines 
 of a great many Cities, and at three 
 days Journey from the Faraous Ghinefe 
 Wall, through a Road eut out of the 
 Rocks, which brings chem to the City of 
 Karakaton. 
 
 After they hâve pafs’d the Chinefe Wall, 
 the firft Place they meet with is the City 
 of Galgatr, not above a Mile within the 
 Wall ; from thence they go to Xantu- 
 nlng, Xunguxu , Xmgote , and Tnnxo to 
 Pekjng, the Refidence of the Empereurs 
 of China. Being fenfible that I hâve fuf- 
 ficiently tired your Patience, I will add. 
 no more, but in expectation of yeur 
 next, reit 
 
 Vîenna , Teb. 
 
 24. 1 699. Sir, 
 
 Tours, Sca 
 
 THE 
 
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 O * O h 
 
 ï-fc*\ I 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 CANG-HY 
 
 The Prefent Emperour 
 
 O F 
 
 CHINA 
 
 Pefented to the 
 
 Moft Chriftian King 
 
 By Fithrr ]. BOUVET, of the So ■ 
 cicty of ■ JESUS, and Miffionary 
 into CHINA. 
 
 LONDON, Printcd for F. Cqggan > in the 
 Inner-Tempte-Lam. MDCXC3X. 
 

 
 
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 ■ 1*1 
 
The H I S T O R Y of 
 
 I 
 
 CANG-HI, 
 
 The Prefent 
 
 Emperour of China : 
 
 AND T H -E 
 
 EASTERN - TARTARY. 
 
 T H E Nameof the Emperour who 
 ^t this time Commands over ail 
 China, and Part of the Great 
 Tartary, is CANG-HI , which 
 implies as much as THE PE ACE AELE, 
 He fucceeded his Father, CHVN-TCHl t 
 a Prince of the Tartarian Race , calPdj, 
 The Mantcheou s, whô firlt of ail, being 
 pofleffed of a large Trait of Ground in 
 the Great Eaftern Tartary , afterwards fet- 
 tled themfelves in the Province of Leao- 
 tong , fituate on the North-Eaft fîde of 
 China ; and at laft compleated the Gon- 
 qüeft of this vaft Monarchy, towards the 
 sniddleof our Age. , 
 
 B This 
 
The H (tory of CAXG-HY, 
 
 This Prince is at prefent in thé 44th 
 year of his Age, and the gôth of his 
 Reign a PerTon, who by many Noble 
 Qualifications hasrendred himfelf Wbrthy 
 of the Management ôf fo Great an Em- 
 pire. 
 
 His whole Deportment is very Maje- 
 ftick , being well proportion’d in his 
 Limbs, and pretty Tall, the Feature of 
 his Face very exa&, , with a large and 
 brisk Eye , beyond what is obfervable 
 among others af that Nation ; He is a 
 lit de. crooked Nofed, and pitted with the 
 Small-pox, but not fo as to be in the leaft 
 disfigur’d by them. 
 
 But the rare ^Accomplifhments of his 
 Mind, furpafs infinitely thofe of his Body. 
 His N a rural Genius is fuch as can. be pa- 
 raîlell’d but by few, being endow'd with 
 a Quick and piercing Wit, a vafb Memo- 
 ry, and Great llnderftanding; His Con- 
 ftancy is never to be iliaken b y any limiter 
 Event, which makes him the fitteft Per- 
 fon in the World, not only to undertake, 
 but alfo to accomplifh Great Defigns. 
 
 To be fhort, His inclinations are fo 
 Noble, and in ail relpe&s fo Anfwerable to 
 the High Station of fo Great a Prince, 
 that his People fland in Admiration of 
 his Perfon, being equally Charm'd with 
 his Love and Jultice, and the Tendernefs 
 he fhews for his Subje&s, and with lus 
 vertuous Inclinations j which as they are 
 always guided by the Dilates of Reafon, 
 fô, they render him an Abfolute Mafter 
 of his Pallions. But, 
 
prefcrJ Empereur of China. 
 
 But, what may feem moft furprifîng, 
 i c , that fo Gre?.t a Monarch, who beats 
 upon his Shoulders the Wei'ght of fo vaffi 
 an Empire,, fhould apply himfelf with a 
 great deal c f Aihduity to , ar.d hâve a 
 true rélifiv of ail Sorts of ufefui Arts 
 and Sciences; 
 
 îtwasowing to his eXtrao r’inary Ge- 
 nius which appear’d in his vc v Infancy, 
 the Emperour his Father, notwithftand- 
 ing his Tender Age, gave him the Prefer- 
 énee beforé ail his Brothers,in declaring him 
 his Suceefîour ; and this Prince has by his 
 Condutt, fince, made it apparent to ali 
 the World, that his Father was not mifta- 
 ken in his Choice. 
 
 For no iboner was he mounted upon 
 the Throne, but his Chief aim was, how 
 to maire himfelf beloved by beth the Na- 
 tions he was to Command ; and knowing 
 the Tartars to be a Warlike People, he 
 accomplifhed himfelf in ail Sorts of Ex- 
 ercifes ufed among them, as well as in. 
 thofe Sciences moit efteenfd among thè 
 Ch'tnefes. 
 
 In Bodily Exercifes he foon improv’d, 
 to that degree, that there was fcarce any 
 Perfon of Note that ’couid coop with 
 him. And as the Tartars equally efteem 
 theSrrength and Agilitv of Body, they 
 feand amaz’d at this Prince,' when they 
 fee him manage lus Bow with the utmoft 
 Dexterity, which is of fuch a bignefs v 
 that there is not one in the whole Court, 
 who can bend it. He fnoots well, both. 
 
 B 2 with 
 
4 Thé Hifiory of CANG-HY, 
 
 withhis leftandright Hand, whether on 
 Foot or on Horfeback, though riding at 
 full-fpeed , and rarely milles his Mark, 
 even when he fhoots flying. He isvery 
 expert in Managing ali forts of Anns, 
 not excepting thofe, that are no more in 
 ufe now a-days, and is as dextrous ac 
 Handling our Fire-locks, as at the Bow. 
 The Tartan are naturally gcod Horfe- 
 men, but this Prince furpaffes môft of 
 them in this Exercife. 
 
 Notwithftanding he excels thus in ali 
 Miiitary Exercifes, this does not hinder 
 his having a good relifh- of Mufîck, efpe- 
 cially of thofe Mufical Inftruments, which 
 are orought thither ont of Europe. And, 
 if the multitude and weight of publick 
 Affairs did not prevent. him from playing 
 npon the famé, as often as he could wifh, 
 there is. no queftion but he would'foon 
 become as great a Mafter of them, as 
 heis of fome Tartarian and Cbinefe In- 
 ftruments, which he lias been taught to 
 play upon , when as yet in his tender 
 Age. 
 
 But as he is not ignorant that the Art of 
 Government is the Principal Qualification 
 belonging to a Sovereign, fo it is to that 
 he has applied himfelf with the utmoft 
 Diligence. He was Ycarce iîxteen years 
 of Age, when his Chief Minifter of State 
 ( who was the moft Potent of thofe four 
 Lords, unto whom his Father had com- 
 mitted the Regency during his Sons 
 Minority) was become fo infolent, as 
 
 to 
 
frefent Empereur ef China. 5 
 
 to Lord it over ail the Princes of the 
 Blood, and to difpofe of ail the Courts 
 or' Juftice at Pleafure, no body dariug to 
 ftand in oppofitiou to his Greatnefs. 
 
 This young Emperour was the firft who 
 had refolution enough to ftop the car- 
 reer of his infolency. For which purpofe, 
 having cali’d together the Chiefeft of the 
 Princes of the Royal Blood, who were 
 Mena bers of the Great Council of the 
 Empirç, he upbraided them with, their 
 want of Courage, in conniving at the 
 Outrages committed by this Miniller of 
 State, without daring to oppofe him in 
 his violent Courfes, and at the famé time, 
 ordered the Prefident of this Council^ 
 to go immediately and feize his Perfon, 
 which was done accordingly. 
 
 He being conviéled of many Injuftl- 
 ces, was condemned to die; but ha- 
 ving asked and obtained penniffion to 
 fee the Emperour before his Death, he 
 fhewed him the Sears and Marks of his 
 Wounds, which he had received in the 
 Service of the Emperour TAITSOW 
 ( whofe Life lie faved ) Grand-Father 
 to His Majefty, and Father of the Em- 
 perour CHVN-TCHI, who entirely con- 
 quered China. In confiderarion of thefe 
 Wounds received in the Service of the 
 two preceding Reigns , he was par- 
 den'd as to his Life, and his Punifh- 
 ment' changed into a perpétuai Im- 
 prifonment, where he afterwards ended 
 his days. 
 
 B 3 Ever 
 
The Hiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Ever fince that 1 time, the Emperour 
 having taken the Reins of the Govern? 
 ment into his pwn bands, iie has ap- 
 plied himfelf to the management of Af- 
 fairs, with fo mucli Aiïîduity, Jrhafc lie 
 takes cognizance of ail matteis, and ré- 
 gulâtes them himfelf, after having under- 
 ftoo’d the Sentiments of his Minifiers of- 
 State and Council. By this continual^ap- 
 piication to Bufinefs, he has acquired fuch 
 a Habit of managing ail publick Affairs; . 
 that fo prodigious a multitude and variety 
 cf Bufinefs, as daily were brought beiore 
 him from the mon femote Parts of fo 
 vail an Empire, feem'd rather to be h:s 
 Diverfion, than any Toil. 
 
 For wbich purpôie, he gives duly every 
 Momipg at break of day. Audience to 
 thofe or the Sovereign Courts pf Pckj^g, 
 vyho then lay ail the Pétitions lodg’d with 
 theili, -before tntn. If the faid Pétitions 
 cpncern any thing of Moment, he fends 
 them to the Court of Colao, which is 
 properly the Council of the Empire ; 
 %vhere, vvhen they are examined, and an 
 Account given concerning them to the 
 Emperour, lie décidés them ashethinks 
 fit; No Judgment.cf any Court not of, 
 the Council of .the Empire it felf being 
 of any Validity, tili approv'd of by the 
 Emperoür. 
 
 , Befidcsi thofe Fours lie fets âfide in- the 
 Mornirig to give Audience, there is a cer- 
 tain Perfon of great Abilitv, in the na- 
 ture pf a Mafler of B e^ueits , vvhorll 
 
7 
 
 prefaït E mberoar of China. 
 
 the day Ichg attends the Empeiour’s 
 Perfon, wherever he goes , and receivcs 
 fuch Pétitions or other Papers , as 
 mu il be . delivered to His Majefty , 
 aicd to hear fuch Perfons, as bave any 
 B u fine fs to be delivered by waj of mouth, 
 of which this Gentleman is bound to give 
 an exact Account inftantly to His Maje- 
 fty, and to brin g back his Anfwcr, pro» 
 vided they are Perfons, whofe province it 
 is, to inform the Court concerning thefe 
 Matters, for otherwife they meet fèldom 
 with any Encouragement. 
 
 If any of his Subje&s find themfelves 
 opprefted by the Mandarins or Govern- 
 ours, they need only to enquire when 
 the Emperour goes out of Pekjng a Hunt- 
 ing,^ or upon any other Diverfion, and fo to 
 prêtent themfelves upon their Knees with 
 their Pétition open in their hands, fome- 
 vvhere near tlie High Road where he is to 
 pafs by -, when moft commonly the Em- 
 pereur fends one of his Attendance, to 
 enquire and examine the Matter of Com- 
 plaint, and if the Mandarins are found 
 guiity, they are fure to meet with moft 
 fevere Punifhment ; But great care muft 
 be taken in this Café by the Subjeéfs, to 
 olïer thefe Pétitions with ail the imagina- 
 ble Refpeft and Humility due to His Ma- 
 jefty, expefting his coming, at a conve- 
 nant diftancé-from the High- road, if they 
 expett to be favourabiy receiv’d ; For if 
 they ave wancing in. thefe Marks of Re- 
 fpècl , and wili force themfelves upon 
 B 4 liirn, 
 
% The Hifiory ef C ANG H Y, 
 
 ; }ihn, by loud Acclamations, and demand- 
 ing Juftice, they are pùftfd back by the 
 Guards ; tbo s effectuai Care is taken, that 
 ho huit be done to any who corne to prê- 
 tent their Pétitions, unlefstheyfhould.be 
 fo bold as to lofe ail manner of Relpeét^ 
 thisPiincebeing wiiling to give ail due En- 
 couragement to his Subje&s, to hâve re- 
 courfe to him in their Grievances, look- 
 ing upon this as the moft proper Means to 
 keep the Mandarins in their Duty, for 
 fear of being accufed befbre the Empe- 
 rour. We hâve obfer-ved during our Stay 
 in China , that many of the moft Con- 
 fiderable Mandarins of the Empire, and 
 who had free Accefs to the Prince s Per* 
 fan, being thus complain’d iagainft, and. 
 found guilty of what they were charefd 
 with, loft nbt onLy their Employaient®,; 
 but were likewife feverely punifhed, ac- 
 cording to their Deferts. 
 
 The prefent Emperour never had any 
 Favourite Minifter, in whcm he confided, 
 but has intrqduced fuch an Abfolute Go- 
 vernment in the Court , tiiat no body 
 dares fpeak to him concerning any Buh- 
 nefs tiiat does not beïong to his Province, 
 unlefshe be ask’d. And, as for his ohm ; 
 Perfon, he is fo clofe In ail his Affaire, 
 that the more- you approach to his' 
 Perfon, the more you are convinced, that 
 his Defigns are paft ail Difcovery. 
 
 ït is his Cuftom to require an exact 
 Account of alh Matters of Momeüt, and 
 ï, 3 hâve fèéret Intelligence -by. different 
 Per- 
 
p> eftnt Emperour of China. 
 
 Perfons, of ail that is tranfa&ed in the 
 Courts of Juftice, and otherwife ; when 
 he gives Audience to private perfons, he 
 asks much, but anfwers little. He ob- 
 ferves with great attention every wprd 
 that is fpoke to him, which he rumihate$ 
 upon at leifure > And to be fhort, there 
 is fcarce any Prince, that ever I heard of, 
 who more lerioufly reflecls upon ail what 
 cornes before him, who knows better the 
 Art of Difliraulation, and is a greater Ma- 
 fter both of his Words and Secrets. 
 
 He is fo happy in his Memory, as to 
 remember for a great while after , the 
 meaneft Circumftances of Things he has 
 once taken notice of, even to the names of 
 Perfons ; neirher the multitude of his 
 Affairs, of which he daily takes cogni- 
 zance himfelf neither lengrh of Time be- 
 ing able to crafe that out of his Memory, 
 which has been once, firmly imprinted 
 there. Of this wé as well as Father Ver- 
 hâve had lèverai times Expérience ; 
 Among. the rtft it happened one day, 
 when the faid Father was following the 
 King in one of his Piogrefles, that his 
 Majefty ask'd him the name of a certain' 
 B;rd which he faw , and the name of 
 which; Father Verbiefl had toîd him in 
 Flemtfh, feveral .years before ; The faid 
 Father not being able juft then to retnem- 
 ber the name of the faid Bird, which v\ as 
 fomewhat odd ; was not a little furprifed, 
 to hear the Emperour ask him, whether it 
 was not caU'd fo and fo in Flemijh, and - 
 
The Hifîoiy of CA î\ G- FI Y, 
 
 that ha fhouîd retàsmber vvhat he had for- 
 gée himfelf ! 
 
 Tais prince lus fo qui’çk in inbght into 
 Matters, that it is no eafie Ma t ter to de- 
 ceive him, and fuch is the Splidicy of 
 his ?^atural Underftanding an<ji, judgment, 
 as moit gênerally tq pitch upon the bell 
 expédient, whçre thé Succefs, is doubtful, 
 and even the beft Head-pieces^ amqqg his 
 Mimftéfs of State , do readiiy confefs , 
 that they are more beholding to his In- 
 itiai citions than tlieir Advice in rcpit Mat- 
 téis of Moment, 
 
 Ofthis he nas given frequent In dan- 
 ces, both whiiit the Différences weteon 
 foot betwixt him and die M^fioyites, and 
 during the Treaty of Peace with them. 
 Às the Af’ifcevites weie f imeriy ioek’d 
 upon as a very unpoliflfd Nation, which 
 had nothing that is erigagingin their Gon- 
 verfation, and that the vail diilance be- 
 tvvixt their Çountry and Pcking , made 
 them little regàided in China, as being 
 fcarcë knovvii there ; fo their fuit Embaf- 
 fy,' whielt w;às kne lo CHVN-TCtll, the 
 prefent EmperourY Farher , was not as 
 niuch as admitted to Audience. 
 
 For thefe Aî^fcoyite.; having refufed to 
 conform themfeives to thefe llavilh Cere- 
 monies, yrhich commonly ave made ufe ôf 
 by thôfe wiio maké their applications to 
 thé Chinejb Court, they wtre kept up 
 dofe, in a manner, LkePrifomrs, wnii- 
 ©ut having the Liberty aliow’d them to 
 |èe thç City of Peklng, or to couver 
 
p/efc.î! Empereur of China. i } 
 
 with any of the ■ Inhabitants ; and. being 
 âfter fome time fent b'ack with their Pre- 
 fents, and without receiving their Çre- 
 dentials ; This gave the firft Occafion to 
 the Aûifcovites to Invadé fome of the 
 Tartars , Subjeft to the Chinefe Empiré. 
 
 The prêtent Emperour had no more 
 reafon to fear the Mafcovites , than his 
 PredecelTours , but wifély confidering y 
 that theÿ might prove troublefome $Jejÿv» 
 bouts to fome of the Tartars fubjeft to 
 and bordering upon China, His Majelïy 
 judged it moft advifable, to treat thon 
 with more Civility, for the Benefit of his 
 Subjeéls. 
 
 Of this he gave a very remarkable Prcof 
 fome years ago ; For the Aîufcovitcs , 
 having been forced to furrender at Dis- 
 crétion, the Emperour was fo far fiom 
 punifhing them with Death, ('according tp 
 the antient Cuftom of China ) that he treat- 
 ed them very civiily ; thofe that were 
 willing to return into Mufcovy he fent back 
 with a certain allowance of Provifion ; 
 fuch as were willing to ferve him, he re- 
 •ceiv’d among his Troops, fome of whom 
 were fent to the Capital City of the.Pro- 
 yince of Leaotong , the others to Peking. 
 
 They had each of them a Houfe with 
 fome Land, and Slaves aliotted them, and 
 each fimpie Fcot Souidier was made a 
 Horfe Man ; The Officers were entertain- 
 ed in the faîne Station, and in better pay 
 than they had in the Mufcovite fervice. 
 
 In 
 
The Hiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 In the famé manner he has treated the 
 Mtifcovite Envoys , which fince that ti me 
 were fent to his Court, with a great deal 
 of Çi viîity,: in defraying their Charges as 
 long as they were within his Territories, 
 and ordering the neceiïary Carriages to be 
 pYôvided not only for their ufe,. but alfo 
 for their wholeBaggage and Merchandizes, 
 both in going and coming , through a 
 large Trait of Land of above fhreehun- 
 dred Leagues. Whilft they were ât Pe- 
 kinz, they had ali the liberty dut could be 
 granted, both in their own Perfpns and 
 Traffick, without paying the ufual Cu- 
 ftom, or any moleftation. The Mtifco- 
 vltes being therebÿ made fenfible of the 
 Benefit that did acrue to their Empire by 
 this Commerce, the deiîre of not loofing 
 thïs Advantage was one of the main rea- 
 fons which induçed them to concludea 
 Peace with the Ckinefes. 
 
 The Mufcwïte Plenipotentiaries did 
 frankly confefs to the two Farhers Perey- 
 va and Gerbtyon, which were (eut by the 
 Emperour of China to be prefent at the 
 Conférences of Peace betwixt thefe two 
 Nations, That the Chief Motive, which 
 had prevaiied with his C^arijh Majefty to 
 fend his Plenipotentiaries to the Treaty 
 of Peace, was the good Treatmenc his 
 Subje£ts had of late rèceived fiom the 
 prêtent Emperour of China. 
 
 It is certain that on the Chinefe fide, 
 ît was by the Emperour's abfolute Autho- 
 ïiçy, That it was refolved in his Council, 
 
 that 
 
 / 
 
prefent Empereur of China. 
 
 that their Plenirotentiaries fliould meet 
 thofeof Mufccrjy upon the Frontiers ; rhis 
 Prince looking ùpon it as very reafonable, 
 to difpenfe with that antient Cuftom of 
 the Proud Chine fe s, who never ufed to 
 fend any Ambafladours to foreign Princes, 
 unlefs it was to carry to them their Em- 
 perour's Commands. 
 
 The two Chief of this Embafly were 
 two of the moft confiderable Lords of 
 bis Court , the beft Head-pieces in his 
 Great Council, and of whofe Integrity 
 he was weli aflured. The Treaty not be- 
 ing brought to a gcôd iiTue thé fi rit Year, 
 he was fo far from being difgufted at this 
 want of Succefs, that on the contrary, he 
 fent his Plenipotentiaries a fécond tirae, 
 with fuch full Inftru&ions, that the 
 Treaty was happily conciuded , and the 
 Limits fettled betwixt thefe two Empires, 
 to his SatisfàéHon. 
 
 It is more than probable, That if this 
 Emperour would hâve infiited upon thofe 
 extravagant Punftilw s, ufed among the 
 Chinefes , and would hâve pretenàed to 
 give no better réception to the JhfuFcovitc 
 Ambafladburs, than what they had met 
 . with at tiieir firit Embafly fent to this 
 Court, they would hâve found means to 
 enter into an Alliance with fome of the 
 JVefiern Tartars , by which means they 
 might hâve proved very troublefome 
 Neighbôurs to the Chine fe Subje&s on that 
 fide. 
 
TbeUiPryofQk^G-m, 
 
 And upon this occafion, I cannot pafs 
 by in fîlence, That the Mufcovites are net 
 the only ftrangers, who hâve been made 
 jçnfible of the good Will , the prefenç 
 Empereur bears to them. The Portage Je 
 and Holland Ambafiadours, havereceived 
 fnch lignai Proofs of his Magnanimity, 
 during their ftay in this Court ; That they 
 do freely confefs, That the prefent Em- 
 pereur ’s Temper is far. different in this re- 
 fpeft, front that of the Chinefes in gene • 
 ral, who hâve at ail times fhewn fo much 
 A ver (ion to Strangers, and hâve look’d 
 tipon them as lo defpicable, as not worth 
 their keeping any Correfpondence with 
 them ; Or if they vouchfafed fometimes 
 to receive fome of their Ambaflàdours f 
 they were treated rather like Subjecfs 
 than their Ëquals. . 
 
 Thus much .is to be faid in behalf of 
 t)\e Chinefes, Thatunlefs it be the Japonefes , 
 the Toakjnefes and Coreans , who hâve gor 
 fomething of Politenefs, which they are 
 cibliged for, to the Chinefes , ail their 
 neighbouring Nations are very Savage and 
 Barbarous ; But the prefent Empereur, 
 who has a much better infight into foreign 
 Affàirs than the reft, has a confiderable 
 time ago, found oijt t!he effecls of this 
 Miftake. The Je fait s hâve imprinted into 
 his Mind fo ad yantageous an Idc a of the 
 Ettropean Kingdoms , .and of fouie other 
 Nations in the World \ and by this conti- 
 nuai Application to fome of the beft 
 Works, as well as to Arie and Sciences 
 flou ri fit- 
 
frefènt Empereur cf China. 
 
 flômifhing m Europe, he bas fcccn fi fiicî- 
 endy convinc d, that the Ckinefes are rot 
 the Onely in the World, who can boaft 
 of their being Faisons in many Arts and 
 Sciences. 
 
 Thishas been,: in a great meafure, the 
 true Reafon why this prèfent Emperour 
 lia; thought ht, to lay afide this prepofte- 
 rcus Cuftom of the ChineCe Nuïon, and 
 to receive the AmbalTadours cf Holland, 
 Portugal, and Mufcot/y, with aT ri e maiks 
 of Relpeét and Civility ; tho ' s r the famé 
 time, they wereobliged to Accoirfucdate 
 therafelves in this point to the antient Cu- 
 ftom of this Empire, as to Treat corxern- 
 ing what they were to tranfaft, with the 
 Courts appointed for that purpofe, 
 
 But this fingular Wifdom ar.d Conduâ 
 did never appear with fuch Luftre, thau 
 during thefe lèverai inteftineCommotions, 
 which happened under his Reign. 
 
 The fit ft and nioft Famous of ail, was 
 the Rébellion raifed by one Oujân-Gouei, 
 who, having brought a confiderable nûm- 
 ber of Tartars into China, and thereby 
 deferved the Title and Dignity of Ring, 
 of Feudatary Prince of a certain Pro- 
 . vince, f oin the prefent Emperour ’s Fa- 
 ther, at iaft eiitred info Cabals againft: die 
 Tartan, with an Intention to drive thêta 
 ont of China. 
 
 He was at firft (b fuccefsFuî, that in a 
 little time, he made himfelf Mafter of 
 one half of this vaft Empire, without 
 mu ch Oppofition, and it was next to a 
 Mira- 
 
i6 The ht fi or y of CANG-HY, 
 
 Miracle, that the reft efcaped his Hands ; the 
 Çhinefes declaring, ’wherever he came, for 
 his Parcy ; in comparifon of whom, the 
 Tartars were but a Handfull of Peopie, 
 who- were not able alone to ftop the Cur- 
 rent ofhis Vi&orious Arms. But fuch 
 was the Prudence and Conduit of this 
 young Prince, who then was not above 
 twenty years old, tliat what he wanted in 
 Force, he fupplied by his own Ability; 
 
 To fpeak without Flattery , it was 
 chièfly owing to this Prince, who mana- 
 ged ail Matters in Perfon , it was, I fay, 
 Owing to the wife Précautions he tôok 
 with the Chief Governours of the Pro- 
 vinces, and other Military Officers among 
 the Çhinefes, tliat he not only kept in O- 
 bedience thofe who had not had the Op- 
 portunity as yet to joyn with the Rebel 
 Oufan-Gouei, but alfo brought over a 
 great many of the Rev ol ted > Chinefes. 
 
 ’Tfs true , he did not appear in Perfon 
 at the Head ofhis Army's; but this was 
 an effeft of his Wifdom, being fufficient- 
 Iy convinc’d, that his Prefence was of 
 Great Confequence at Peking, to keep the 
 Northern Princes in Obédience, and to 
 difperfe by his Royal Prefence thefe Fa- 
 ctions, which were carried on in that Ci- 
 ty againlt his Intereft, and which might 
 otherwife hâve proved of- more dangerous 
 Confequence, than the whole Force of 
 Ouf an- Gond. 
 
 To 
 
prefent Emperour of China. 1 7 
 
 To be fhort, he aéled in this Affair not 
 like a young Prince, but with fuch pré- 
 caution , that no more couid hâve been 
 expecled from the moft accoropliihed Po- 
 litician-, He was day and night prefent at 
 the Councils, and ready at aii times to 
 difpatch his Orders according to the dif- 
 ferent Exigencies of Affairs, eonceming 
 which, and ali the leaft Circumllanccs 
 that attended it , he had confiant Intelli- 
 gence given him ; it being the moft dan- 
 gerous that ever threatned the Chinefe 
 Empire ; forafmuch as it proved the Source 
 of many other Fa&ions, which however, 
 he happiiy fupprefled before they came to 
 any Maturity, by his prudent Conduft. 
 
 The fîrft oÇ thefe Fa£lions was.aCon- 
 fpiracy among the Slaves of Peking, who 
 being ail Chinefe s , had agreed among 
 themfelves, to Murther ail their Mafters 
 that were Tartars by Off-fpring, in one 
 Night; and the better to compafs their 
 Defign, they were afterwards to fet Fire 
 to four or five places of the City. But 
 there being fo vaft a ntimber concernai in 
 this Confpiracy, as fcarce to know one ano- 
 ther,the famé was by Accident difcovtred by 
 feveral of the Aecomplices , fome days 
 before it was to be ; put in Execution ; 
 whereupon the Emperour, having feized 
 upon and punilhed with prefent D^ath 
 fome of the Ring-leaders, he broke the 
 Neck of the whole Confpiracy in, a few.' 
 days, by granting a General Amnefty to 
 the reft. 
 
 This 
 
 C 
 
18 The Hrftory cf GANG-HY, 
 
 This Faélion was foon after follcwed by 
 another : For the Rings of Canton ancf 
 Foklep } being likewife of the Cbinefe Race, 
 wHen they faw the Tartars tmb'Oii’d 
 by the Revoit of Ofifcn Gond, aid look- 
 upon this as the fitteft Opportunity to 
 fhake off the Tartarian Yôak, and to make 
 themielves Sovereigns each in their ovvn 
 Province. 
 
 Mnch about the famé time there revoit- 
 ed another King of the Race cf Mongo , 
 Chief of the fiead branch of thofe Prin- 
 ces defcended from the Weft-Tartarian 
 Emperours, who Reigned over China be- 
 fore the Impérial Family of Taiming ; 
 which is above three hundred years ago, 
 and who, after they were .chafed from 
 thence, regain’d the Impérial Throne a 
 fécond time, and reigned tiil the 3oth 
 year of this Age, when thefe Princes rui- 
 ned themfelves by Inteftine Divifons. 
 
 For, the prefent Emperours Grand-fa- 
 ther, laying hold of this Opportunity to 
 afcend the Impérial Thione, knew fo well 
 how to foment thefeQüarreis, till he found 
 meansto reduce them, one after another, 
 under his Obedienee, not etfpeâing even 
 the Chief of the Famiiy , w ho retained 
 hitherto the Name of Emperour , and 
 was forced by his own Subjects, to fub- 
 mit like the reft. But the Tartars of the 
 Race of Mantcbeou, to vender their Sub- 
 ieélionmore fpecious and ealîe, did, af- 
 ter the entire Conqueft of China , beltovv 
 the Title of Ring upon this Emperour, 
 
 as 
 
prefent Emÿerour of China. jg 
 
 as well as upon feyeral others' of the moft 
 Potent Princes or the Family of Mongo. 
 
 WhUft the prefent Emperour vvas en- 
 gaged againft the three beforementioned 
 Rebellions Chinefe Princes or Kings, fome 
 Officers belonging to this Prince, who is 
 Chief of the Principal Brançh of the Far 
 mily of Mongo , being corne to Pehlrg r 
 and having obferved, That the Place was 
 not provided with any coniiderable Nuna- 
 ber of Troops, ahe Garrifon confifting 
 onlyof afevv young, raw Soldiers, they 
 did not fail to give Intelligence of it to 
 tlieir Mafter , who being encouraged to 
 improve fo favourable a Conjuncture , 
 refolved to try his Fortune, whether he 
 .could recover his antient Right, and the 
 Empire of China. 
 
 ■ But whilil he was making the neceilàry 
 Leagues with the other neighbouring Prin- 
 ces of the Race of Mongo , the thing 
 could not be carried on with fo much fe- 
 crecy, but that it reached the Emperour ’s 
 Ears, who with an incredible Refolution, 
 fent immediately a fmall Body of Troops, 
 compofed partly of the Garrifon of Pe~ 
 kjng , partly of thofe Quartered in the 
 Province of Leaotong } bordering upon the 
 Territories of the revolted Prince, againft 
 h‘im, whereby the Enemy being bereaved 
 of the Succours he expefted from the o- 
 ther Princes his Allies, was forced, with 
 what Forces he could bring togèther in. 
 hafle of- his ôvvn, to fight the Armyof 
 the Emperour, who were advanced to* 
 
20 
 
 The Hiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 the very heart of his Province, where he 
 was entirely put to the Rout, and taken 
 Prifoner in the purfuit, with his Brother 
 and Children. 
 
 He made ufe of the famé Method, and 
 with the famé Succefs upon many other 
 Occafions, during the Civil War ; for 
 with that fmall number of Troops, whp 
 were entirely to his dévotion, he aRvays 
 was fuccefsful againft the Rebels, . tho' 
 they lbood it out to the laft with a great 
 deal of Bravery. 
 
 Among the Heads of the Rébellion, 
 eveti many, who did not ftir, or had any 
 fhare in thefe Commotions, were feiz’d 
 and put to Death, with ail their Children, 
 without diftindion of Age or S ex 5 pur- 
 fuant to that moft îigorous Conllituti- 
 on of the Chincfes ; according to which. 
 Rébellion is punifhed in the ninth Gé- 
 nération, which was done with an Inten- 
 tion to extinguilh the whole Race of a 
 Rebellions Fadion. 
 
 In the mean while , the. Emperour , 
 whofe Nature is in no wife inclin a d to 
 Cruelty, was fo merciful to the Brothers 
 of the Kings of Canton and Fohjen, that 
 he would not let them receive the leafe 
 Damage either. in their Perfons or Eftates, 
 knowing them to hâve had no liand in the 
 Rébellion. But, becaufe he found him- 
 felf under a neceflîty to put to Death 
 fome of the Kindred of Oufan-Gouei , that 
 were as yet very youngi he iflued out a 
 Manifefio , in which he protefted, that it 
 
 w r as 
 
prefent Emperour ef China. 
 
 was nôt accord ing to his Inclinations, to 
 put them to Death ; but tliat hé was con- 
 ftrained to yield to the Law of thé Em- 
 pire, and to the Advice of the Princes of 
 the Blood, and of other Sovereign Courts 
 of the Empire, who were ail for main- 
 taining the Force of this Law, to ftrike 
 Terrour into the Subjecî: againft Rébellion, 
 by the Dread of the \\orft of ail the 
 Punifhments which can be iiftlitted upon 
 the Chinefes , _ which is to leave no Pofte- 
 rity behind them. 
 
 Thus the Emperour did not onîy reunite 
 thofe Provinces with the Crown , which 
 had fhaken oft the Yoak, but alfo thofe 
 who were dignified with the Title of 
 Kingdoms in favour of three Générais of 
 the Cblnefe Army, who having embraced 
 the Party of the Tartans , were very in- 
 ftrumental in the Conqueft of China. 
 
 He had allô the good Fortune, to ex- 
 terminate the Remainders of thofe an- 
 tient Chinefes, w'ho rat h et than fubmit to 
 the Tartarian Yoak, when they firft entred 
 China, chofe rather to follow tîiat Famous 
 P y rate Couefn. 
 
 It was under the Reign of CHVN- 
 TCHI, Fa tirer of the prêtent Emperour, 
 that this Pyrate àttempted no lefs than the 
 Conqueft cf the whole Empire, for which 
 purpofe, he was advanced with a very 
 formidable Army , as far as the City of 
 Nankjng, which in ail likelihood he wôuld 
 hâve been foon Mafter of, if it had noc 
 bèen Bravly defended by a certain Tar- 
 Ç 3 tariait 
 
The Ht (tory of CANG-HY, 
 tari an Commander, whp being fenfible 
 that the Fate cf the Empire depended on 
 the Prefervation of this Place, did, not on- 
 îy with a fmall number of Troops , re- 
 pulfe the Enemies in their lèverai Attacks, 
 but at laft, alfo furprifed the Pyrate and 
 lais Army , vvhich he put to an entire 
 Rout one Night, when they were over- 
 whelmed with Drink, haying’the day be- 
 fore celebrated the Birth-day of their Ge- 
 neral. 
 
 This was the famé Famous Pyrate, 
 who, after he had loft his whole Army in 
 this Occafion, retired with bis few Re- 
 mainders to the Jfle of Formofa , front 
 whence he chafed the Hollanders , and e- 
 ftablifhed himfelf there. Plis Spn main- 
 tain’d himfelf after his Father’s Death, 
 upon that Illand, till the prefent Empe- 
 rourof China, forced him to fubmit to 
 his Obedience, with ail his Subjeéts, ex- 
 cept a few, who retired to the Kingdom 
 of Flamboya. 
 
 Thus it may be laid without flattery, 
 That the prefent Emperour, CANG-HI , 
 haS acquired more Glory in fubduing fo 
 many Rebel s , and maintaining himfelf 
 in the Throne, againft fo many dangerous 
 Enemies, than the Famous Amavang his 
 tlncle, and Guardian to his Father, did, 
 by the Conqueft of the whole Empire: 
 For the Conqueft of China was not very 
 ïlearly bought by, the Tartdrs , the Chinefes 
 ftriving to deftroy one another at that 
 iirae, and the braveft arnong them fiçhng 
 
2 3 
 
 .frcfent F mperour of China. 
 
 with die Tartars againil their Country- 
 men. 
 
 The Fire of Rébellion being thus ex- 
 tinguilhed, and Tranquility reftored to 
 the Empire, the next care the E mperour 
 took, was to re-eftablifh a good Order, 
 and iupprefs fuch Abufes as vvere cvept in- 
 to the Government, during the Licenci- 
 oufnefs of thefe intelbine W ars, in lieu of 
 which, he endeavoured to re-eftablifh the 
 antient Vigour of the Laws, and intro- 
 duce Plenty among his Sübjecls. 
 
 But as he knevv, that notbing could fo 
 much conduce to the encompafhng of this 
 f)efign ? than if Minifters of known Abi- 
 lity and Probity were put in Officès of 
 Trufi, both in the Court and Provinces ; 
 it was his main Study to chufe fuch as 
 were beft quahfied for that purpofe, and 
 and to encourage fuch in their Duty as 
 were in Offices before. 
 
 It is to be obferved, that the Conflitu- 
 tution of the Chinefe Government is ab - 
 foluteiy Moitarchical, ail depending on 
 One fingle Kead. The inferiour Officers 
 baye their Dépendance entirely on their 
 Supérieurs ; The Governour of each City 
 régulâtes alone ail A flairs belônging to the 
 City under his Jurifdicfi’on ; and To does 
 each Governour in his Province. This 
 Form of Government, which in it felf 
 confidered, is very perfecl, ^eqijires how- 
 ever, That the Go vernours of Cities and 
 Provinces, who are invefled with the 
 Rpyal Auchority, be of fuch approved 
 C 4 Iiu<> 
 
The Htfîory of CANG-HY, 
 ïntegntv and Probity, as to be Proof â- 
 gaiail: aU manner of Corruption. 
 
 le is almoft incredible, what effectuai 
 Care the prefent Emperour takes in the 
 Choice of his Mandarins, efpecially- thofe 
 of the Provinces and Cities'; and with 
 how watchful an eye he over- looks ail 
 their Tranfactions. He doesnotieft fatisfied 
 with the Account lie receives from the 
 Court of the Mandarins , and with the 
 Perfons that are recotnmended by them, 
 but he lias every where his Spyes , who 
 furnilh.hitn with (ecret Intelligence* from 
 whence it cornes, that he often chufes 
 quite otherwife, and contrary to their Re- 
 commendations ; his Chief aim beïng to 
 advance every one according to hisDe- 
 ferts. Fbr, whenever he obferves in any 
 one of his Minifters a more than ordinary 
 Capacky, he never fails to give him par- 
 ticular Marks of his Favour, by beftowing 
 upon him fome of the molt Eminent and 
 Ccnfidetable Offices : On the other hand, 
 if they make the leaft falfe fteps in the 
 Management of their Truft, this is: luf- 
 ficient to make them lofe their Office, if 
 it reaches the Emperour s Ears ; But, if 
 any one be convicted of Bribery, he is 
 fuie to meet with a Prince who is inexo- 
 rable in that Point, and vvithout the leaft 
 Refpect to his Degree or Quali ty, h e lofes 
 not only his Place, but is Exemplarily. 
 punjffied bendes. 
 
n 
 
 frefent Emperour of China* 
 
 From hence it is, tint we hâve feen 
 fuch continuai Changes among the Man- 
 darins of ail degrees. For, within the 
 firft four Years, whilft we tarried at Pe- 
 fe.moft of the Governours and Vice- 
 Roys of the Provinces, as well as the 
 Chief Members of the feveral Tribunais 
 pr Courts of Peking were difplaced ; for 
 the Emperour keeps fo watchful an Eye 
 overthtm, that it is next to an impoffibi- 
 lity that any of their Faults lliould long 
 efcape his Knowledge. 
 
 We were no fooner arrived at this Court, 
 but we faw four Calao, two Tartars, and 
 two Chinefes, depofed from their Offices 
 at once ; as was likewife the Prefident of 
 the firft Tribunal of the Six*, which are 
 the Supream Courts of the Empire, tho* 
 he was Father-in-law to the eldeft Son of 
 the Emperour. Atour very firft coming to 
 the Royal Pallace, we were fhewn one 
 of thefe beforementioned Calao , fitting 
 near one of the Gates, and fupplying the 
 Place of a Commcn Sergeant of the 
 Gnards ; the Emperour, for his Mortifia 
 cation, haying condemn’d him to this 
 Employaient. 
 
 ^ Much abput the famé time, two or three 
 Viceroys wéte brought to Peking, one of 
 them in Chains, withont the leait Atten- 
 • dances, and being afcerwards conviéted 
 o ç having exacted Great Sums from the 
 Province under his Juiifdiftion, he was 
 condemnd to Death, the other Two ef- 
 çaped yvith loofing their Offices , .their 
 Crimes 
 
s6 The H; (lot y of CAN G PO , 
 
 Crimes being not of fo high a Nature. 
 
 In the nexc foüowing Year, the Vice- 
 Roy of the Province of Tche-Kiang, who 
 was aîways a pvofeiled Enemy of the 
 Chviitian Religion, and did with ail lus 
 Might oppofe our Stay in -China, being 
 aecufed of Malverfation, was condemned 
 by the Emperour himfelf, not only to be 
 deprived of lus Office, but alfo to a per- 
 pétuai Banifhment into Tartary. 
 
 Thus this Prince has laid io ftrifl an 
 Obligation upon himfelf, to conform his 
 Reign in ali Refpeéts to the Laws of E- 
 quity, and to advance none but Deferviug 
 Ferions to any Places of Truft, that there 
 is {earce one Infance to be given, when 
 either ont of Partial; ty or Self-Intereft 
 he has aéled contrary to this fo laudable 
 a Refolution. 
 
 Neither is it only in this par ticular Gare 
 of chufing well qualified Mmàarins, and 
 his Vigllancy over their Aflions, that the 
 Emperour’s Goodnefs to his People is 
 Confpicuous , whenever there happens 
 any pubîick Calamuy in his Realrn, his 
 Compaffion and Inquiétude are mole e- 
 yident Proofs, that he ’ooks upon himfelf 
 fâcher a Father, than a Sovereign of his 
 peop'ie. 
 
 Of this we faw our felves, feveraî In- 
 stances in two Years. For, there hap- 
 pening a great Scarcity, occaiioned for 
 want of Rain, in fome of the Provinces, 
 y/hich had reduced the Inhabitants to the 
 Etmoit t^gree of Mifery ; this Prince was 
 i ■■ ;•! lo 
 
prefent Empereur of China. 27 
 
 fo fehfibly touched with their Calamity, 
 that he not only remitted the whole An- 
 nual Tribute, which amounts to betwixt 
 thirty and forty Millions of Livres, and 
 caufed the publick _ Granaiies to be l'eto- 
 pen ; but he likewife ordered both Corn 
 and Money to be diftributed among the 
 tnoft Neceffitous of the People. 
 i And the more effectually to fupply the 
 Neceffities of the Poor, he gave leave to 
 fuch of the richer Sort, as had qualified 
 themfelves by taking the neceflary De- 
 grees for Mandarins , and had undergone 
 the Examen, to boy thofe Offices, and 
 to furniih a cert .in Quantity of Corn, to 
 be fent to thefe places, where they ftood 
 molt in need of it ; And, becaufe there 
 flock’d great Numbers of thefe Mifera- 
 ble Wretdhes daily to Peking, in hopes ôf 
 findingfeme Means of Subliftance there, 
 the Empereur fbund out a way, at' once 
 to fupply their Neceffities , and to do 
 fomething for the publick Good ; For he 
 ordered ' them to be employed in re-build- 
 ing thole Tribunals that are v irhin the 
 Precinâ of the Court, by which means 
 he alfo prevented thoië Diforders which 
 are the ordinary Effe&s of an idle Life. 
 
 Upon the occalîon of any publick Ca- 
 lamity, he débats himfelf of his ordina- 
 ry Divertifements, whiclielfe he frequent- 
 ly takes at one of his two Royal Country 
 Seats, not far from Peking. We hâve 
 feen him, during ail this Time of that 
 Scarcity of Corn , keep clofe in his 
 Paiiace, 
 
g.g The Hiftory of C ANC fit; 
 
 Pallace , without appearing in publiclc, 
 unlefs when he went with his whole Court 
 to the Temple , dedicated to the .SV#, 
 there, ( accord ing to antienc Cuftom ob- 
 ferved upon fuch like Occafions among 
 the Cbinejes ) to pray for Ram, "by pub * 
 lick Prayers and Sacrifices,^ which he of- 
 fers to the Supream Lord of Heaven and 
 Earth y being much more enlightned in 
 thi,s point, than moft of the Modem 
 Çhinefes, who being' in this fundamental 
 point of Religion, degenera|ed from their 
 Anceftors ( as they are in many othev 
 points ), do adore the Material Heavens 
 in lieu of that Supream Intelligence, which 
 governs the hjniverfe with an infinité Pow- 
 er, Wifdom and Goodnefs. 
 
 As often as this Prince takes his progrefs 
 into lome of his Provinces ( which he 
 does from time to time ) on purpofe to be 
 inform’d concerning the true Condition 
 pf his People, and in what manrier they 
 are Govern’d by the Mandarins,-, itis his 
 Cuftom to appear with a more Affable and 
 Familiar Air than at other rimes, and 
 to permit even the meaneft Workmen 
 or Peafant to approach his perfon. He 
 fpeaks to them w'irh fo mucii Affability 
 and- Sweetnefs,, as Charms them to the 
 Heart ; and among other Queftions, which 
 he commonly askes them, he feldoui fails 
 to ask, Whether they are fatisficd -with t helr 
 frefent Governotirs. If he finds any real 
 Qccafion of Complaiht againft any one 
 ©f the Aiandarws, he is .fure to be dif- 
 t ' poffeffcd 
 
prefent Empereur <?/ China. 29 
 
 poiîeffed of his place immediately ; as on 
 the other hand, if his Conduét is recom- 
 mended by the general Approbation of 
 the People, this is a fure ltep to higher 
 Dignities, 
 
 It is about feven years ago, when the 
 Emperour in one of his Progrefles to the 
 Southern Provinces, pafs’d through Hovi- 
 ttgan, which is a large City in the Province 
 of N m- kj'/ig , and the ordinary place of 
 Refider.ee of the Tfong-ho , or Supeiiu- 
 tendant General of ail the Waters, Ri- 
 vets, and Canals of the Empire, which is 
 one of the moft Confiderable places with- 
 outthe Court. This Tjong-ho , being ac- 
 eufed of Malverfation in his Office, and 
 upon the point of being difplaced, befides 
 the paying of a Great Fine ;• the peopie of 
 this City prefented a Pétition to tire Em-r 
 perour, in favour of the faid Tfong-hù g . 
 who had no fooner perufed the Pétition, 
 much in Commendation of this Mandarin, 
 but without taking any further Informa- 
 tion, he reftored him immediately to his 
 Office ; as an évident Mark, that nothing 
 could be abie to înake a more feniible Im- 
 preffion upon his Mind in refpecl of the 
 Mandarins, than if t'ney treated the peo- 
 ple in iuch a manner, as to be confidered 
 by them rather like Fathers than Govern- 
 ours. 
 
 Though it is beyond ail Difpute, that 
 the Emperour of China , is the moft po- 
 tent Prince in the World, both in refpecl 
 of his vaft Revenues, and the great estent 
 and 
 
TkeHiJloryof. CANG-HV, 
 and Goodnefs of bis Territories 5 never- 
 theîéfs is he-a-great Enemy to Luxury, in 
 refpeft of bis own perfon ; being in rhis 
 point an exaft Obferver of one of the 
 Fundaraental Laws of the Chinefe Monar- 
 chy, which forbids ail exceiïîve Expences 
 in the Great Ones, and the Prince 
 himfelf, unlefs it be with relation to the 
 publick Good. 
 
 Not but rhat the Expences of his Hou- 
 fhold furpafs without ail Contradiction, 
 rauch thofe of the moft MagniHcent 
 Courts of Europe, by reafon of that al- 
 moft hmumerable Multitude of Officers 
 and others, who daily hâve their Subfift- 
 ance firom Court ; But in refpeét of his 
 own Perfon, he is the moft Exaél pattern 
 of Frugality and Modefty. Tis true, he 
 is Serv'd at his Table in Gold and Silver, 
 according to his Grandeur, but in other 
 Matters not regulated by Cuftom, he ne- 
 ver fliews the leali Inclination to Nicery ; 
 being contented with ordinary Dilhes ; 
 and fuch is his Sobriety, that chere cannot 
 be one Inftance given when he committed 
 the Ieaft Excefs in that kind. 
 
 His Pallace is of a vaft Circumference, 
 refèmbling in Bignefs a conltderable City, 
 and to look upon the many large Stru- 
 ctures which it contains, and which are ail 
 covered with Tyles varnilhed with a Gold. 
 Colour, affording a moft Glorious fight, 
 it isno difficult matter to judge that tins ' 
 Pallace was intended to be the Seat of a 
 Gréât Moharch ; But as for the Appart-^ 
 ments 
 
frefent Ewperour of China, 
 rnents and their Furnituves, even notex- 
 cepnng the Emperour's Lodgings, their 
 Chief Ornament is, that they are kept 
 clean and neat, there beingnothirg to be 
 feen but fcme Pi&ures, a little Guild- 
 ing, and plain Si;k Eangings, of which. 
 inc.eed there is gréai pienry, becaufe they 
 are fo corn ni on in China. 
 
 he has buht himieif a Country-houfe, 
 about two Leagues dillant frcm Peking, 
 wlaere he takes frequent! y his Divertife- 
 menrs, and retnes thither foi a good part 
 of theYear. But belides two GreatCi- 
 lterns and fome Canais, which hâve been 
 niade by his Orders,- there is roiiiingto 
 be feen theie that beats the itaii piopor- 
 tion to the Magnificence of fo Rich and 
 Great a Monarch. Every thing indeea is 
 very Neat; but in refpeft cl both the 
 Structure ic feif, and in relpeft of the 
 Gardens, and the whole Defgn of the 
 Place, ic does rot appioach to fcme 
 Country Houles betongirg to fome Perfons 
 ûf Quality about Parts. 
 
 fiis Modelty appears as well in his Ha- 
 bit as in ail other Things winch ferve for 
 his proper Ule. For. his Cicaths, unlefs 
 it be fcme Sables ancl Ermins, v.hichas 
 they are i e: y com non in this Court, fo 
 he makis tu; of thcm for the Winter 
 Seafon for Linings, ■ e of a plain Silk, 
 which is ib common ail over China, that 
 every boqy, untels the pooreil Sort, maker 
 nie of tiiem. 
 
The llijlory of CANG-HŸ, 
 
 In a Rainy day you fhall fee him fo'me- 
 times drefs’d in a Woilen Caffock, fueh as 
 is worn among the ordinary Sort of peo- 
 pie in China ; fo, we. hâve feen him 
 fometimes in the Summer appear in a Ha- 
 bit madéof nothing but Callicoe, vvhich 
 is the ordinary Wear of the Chinefes in 
 their Houfes. Unlefs it be- upon fome 
 Feftival, the only thing which is remarka- 
 ble and magnificent in his Habit, is a very 
 large Pearl, which during the Summer 
 Seafon he, weârs upon his Bonnet, raade 
 afcer the Tartarian Fafhion. 
 
 His Chair in which he is carried both 
 within and without the Precinft of the 
 Pallace, when he has no mind to go on 
 Horfeback, is no more than a kind of a 
 Litter, made of ordinary Wood Varnifh d 
 ’ over, adorned on the Corners with Cop- 
 per plates, or Guild Garvings of Wood. 
 He appears no more Magnificent when he 
 goes abroad oh Horfe-back, the Tràppings 
 of his Horfe having no other Ornament 
 than a pair of Srirrups of Iron very neat- 
 ly güilt, and the Reins of his Bridle be- 
 ing of yellow Silk. 
 
 To comprehend ail in few words, there 
 appears noching in any thing which be- 
 longs to his Perfon, which has the leall 
 Refemblance to that Pride and Pomp, 
 which is fo much affeéted by the other AJta- 
 /ir^Princes ; and it may be truly faid of him, 
 That he" is fenfible, that the true Luftve 
 and Grandeur of a Prince does not Oon- 
 iift fo much in the exterior Pomp, as. in 
 
prefixtEwpcrour cf China. 
 
 their owri Verrues 5 efpecially ilînce ic 
 mu il be confefs'd, That, as his Treafury 
 is vaftly Rich, his Empire abounding 
 in ail manner 6f Things , and the Chine - 
 [et «aturally inclin a to Induftry and ali 
 fort of Handy- works, he might wich as 
 much eafe exceed ail the other Princes of 
 Afin in Potnp and Magnificence, as his , 
 Empire has the préférence before their» 
 borh in Extènt and Riches. 
 
 Bue to let the^ World fçe, thàt it is not 
 out of Avarice or ahy fordid Teiftper of 
 hisown, that he fnus. avoids ail Prof ufed- 
 nefs and Luxury irî Matters relating ■ to his 
 own Perfon j he fhews himfelf as Liberal 
 and Magnificent in any thing which has 
 refpecl to the Publick, as he is Sparing m 
 his private Expences. He is not prodigal of 
 Millions, wlien they corne in Compétition 
 vvith the Welfare of the Empire He dos 
 not grudge to beftow Immenfe Sums in 
 repairing the publick Edifices, to keep the 
 Rivers, Channels, Bridges, and Banks, 
 and fuch like Things, which ferve for the 
 Conveniency of Commerce, and Eafe of 
 the People, in good Repair : From whence 
 it is eafie to judge, that, if he retrenches 
 fomething from his fuperfluous private 
 Expences ; he.Husbands it for the Bene- 
 fit of the publick , Good, in ordex to em- 
 ployât for the more exigent O ccafions of 
 the State, the Chief aim of this Prince/ 
 being, to be confidered by his Subjecls as 
 their Father, not their Mafter. 
 
 'Of 
 
 O 
 
34 The Hiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Of this he gave a moft Eminent proof 
 about five years ago. The greateft part 
 of his Soldiers (o f whomtheie isagreat 
 Number at Pehing ) were reduced to 
 great Extremity by reafon of their Debts, 
 which they had contraéled from time to 
 time, fhe greateft part of their Pay being 
 fearce fufhcient to pay the Intereft of 
 wlut they ov/d. This could not be im- 
 puted to any thing elfe, but the IlFhuf- 
 bandry of the Soldiers themfelves , or at 
 leaft of their Father s ; For their Pay is 
 both very good, and eXaftly paid every 
 Month ; and when they firft fettled them- 
 felves at Pekyrig , they had Houfes , 
 Grounds, and Slaves ailottcd them, fuf- 
 ficient for an honourable Maintenance, e- 
 very one proportionably to his Quaiiry. 
 Neverthelefs the Emperour was no fooner 
 informé concerning their prefent Condi- 
 tion, but being touched with Compa(îion, 
 he ordered immediately their Accompts 
 to be Stated, and to be paid out of his 
 Treafury, the whole amounting to above 
 fixteen Millions of Livres. 
 
 And toprevent the like for the future, 
 he iifued his Orders, That no private per- 
 fon fhould prefume to advance any Mo- 
 ney to the Soldiers upon their Pay, under 
 penalty of looftng the Debt ; but to fup- 
 ply at the famé time the Occafions of the 
 Soldiers in café of Neceility ; he com- 
 manded, that upon any neceiîrtous Oc- 
 cafion Money fhould be advanced them 
 oüt of the ^Treafury, to a certain limited 
 Sum, 
 
prefcnt Emperour of Ghina. 
 
 $um, to be deducied by little and little 
 out of cheir Pay, wichout putting them 
 under the necefîity of paying Interdf- 
 Money, or rather Ex tordons, as are ufu- 
 ally paid at Peking, when people are dro- 
 ven to the neceiîity of Borrowing Money. 
 
 About the famé time, a Pétition being 
 prefented to him from the Hia or ordina- 
 jy Mandarins of his Guards ( of whom 
 there artf betwixt fgyen and eight Hun- 
 dred ) and from fome other Giiicers be- 
 longing to his Houfhold, Thar they were 
 much in Debt, and begg’d Relief frôm 
 His Majefty ; he ordered the Officers of 
 his Houfhold eighthundred Livres â-piece, 
 and four hundred to each of Tuch of the 
 inferior Officers, as were ûnable to pay 
 their Debts, and whofe D'uty it is to At- 
 tend his Perfon jn the progreflfes he makes 
 throughout the Empire. This Sum which 
 amounted in the whole to above two Mil- . 
 lions of Livres, he ordered to be paid out 
 of his privy Purfe ; becaufe, faid he, It 
 ivotdd be mjuft to lay the Barthen oftheje- 
 Debts, which hâve been contrarie d by my 
 Domeftick. Servants , ttfon the Public E Trea- 
 fury. 
 
 - This Extraordinary Generofity of the 
 Emperour,- had very near proved the Oc- 
 çafion of a Revoit among thofe of the 
 Chinefe Horfe , .who being ..eompofed of 
 Slaves, as they could not contrat: any 
 Debts, To they had had no fhare in the 
 Efnperour s Liberality. , It is to be ob- 
 feryed, that there is a.confiderable num- 
 
The Hipryof CANG-HY, 
 
 ber of thefe Horfemen entertain’d aniOng 
 the Tartan, and, that as their Pay is ver y 
 good, fa they for the rnoft part, maintain 
 thereby their 'Families. Near ,iiye thpu- 
 fand of thefe Slaves affembled thenifelves 
 Jiear the Royal Pallace, in order to pre- 
 fent a Pétition to the Empereur, in which 
 they begg’d tobeincluded in the Number 
 *qf thofe that wefe to receive fuch ample 
 Marks of his Bounty. 
 
 Thefe being not one among ail the 
 Courtiers there prefent, vvho jthewed any 
 Inclination to prefer their Pétition toJÜis 
 fvlaiefty, they remairied for fome time in 
 an humble polture, bare-headed and upon 
 their Knees, in the Great outwai cl Court 
 of the Pallace ; But being fôon after in- 
 form’d by fome that pafs’d that Waÿ, 
 That the Emperour was gone to take a 
 Walk in the Garden behind the Pallace, 
 they furrôunded the Garden, and with 
 great Clamour, delired JHis Majefty to ex- 
 tend his Bounty to them as well as the o- 
 tliér Soldiers, they having been ready up- 
 on ail Occafions to ferye him, and facri- 
 fïce their Lives for his Interell, wit.h the 
 famé Zeal as the reft. But the Empeiour 
 taking another way* did , as if lie had 
 not heard or underitcod their Meaning ; 
 whereupon fome time aftervyards, word 
 being brought to the Emperour, That they 
 had forced the firft Gâte that leads tô the 
 Garden, infpite of the Guards ; vvho 
 vyerenot able to refit their Number, he 
 commanded eight of the Ring-leadersto 
 
ÿrefcnt Emferotr of China* • 57 
 
 bp feifed inftantly, and tlic rpft to be 
 beaten ont of the Court with Sticks ? 
 winch being'dône accordingly, this muti- 
 n'ous Rabble vvas diiperfed in an inftant. 
 
 ' But as His Majefty had by this laft A£b 
 of Generofity, given very ample demon- 
 ftvations of lus Affe&ion and Tendernefs 
 for the Soldieiy in General ; fo, upon this 
 Occadon, he refplved to let them, fee , 
 
 That he woyld' not fuffer himfelf to 
 be abufed, and that Ke knevv how to punifh 
 their Infolence. For which Reafon, thefc 
 eight Mutineers were ordered ’ to be tryed 
 before the Criminal Court, as well as their 
 'Mafters, purfuant to an antient Cuftom 
 among the Tartars, according to which 
 ■the Mafters bare a Share in the punifhment 
 infliéled upon their Slaves, in café of any 
 Misbéhaviour, the better to oblige them 
 to keep a watchful eye over their Slaves, 
 that they may not tranfgrefs upon others. 
 
 By this Court the eight Slaves were the 
 nextday condemned ro. Death, and their 
 Mafters to a perpétuai Banifhtnent into 
 TartAry. 
 
 The Emperour however extended his 
 Mercy tocards them in mitigating this 
 Sentence, : which was only executed upon 
 one, who having been the Chief Ring- 
 leader of this Mutiny, was beheaded the 
 famé day before Nooh, and his Maiter, 
 who was one of the Aüni.iri-ns of the 
 Emperour 's own Guards, loft his place, 
 and Was banifhed into thé remoteft parts 
 Sf T*rtœ;y. - 
 
 D 3 Thç 
 
jS The Hiftory of GANG- H Y, 
 
 The other feven eicaped with being 
 foundly Whipt, and as a further Punifh- 
 ment were forced to carry , for threé 
 Montlis after about their Necks the Chtnefe 
 Cangve, which is nothing elfe but tw.p 
 thick Boards joyn’d together in the mid- 
 dle, like our Pillory Boards , of about 
 three foot Square, and near eighty pound 
 Weight. 5 
 
 Their Mafters were Gracioufly' pardon'd 
 by the Emperour , as well as the other 
 Soidiers, and their principal Ccmmanders, 
 who threw themfeîves at’ His Majefty’s 
 feet, excufin'g their Fault in notpreventing 
 ■ the Defign of thefe Mutineers, and asking 
 his Pardon; ready’ to fubmit themfeîves to 
 any Punifhment lie lhould think fit to in- 
 Ëi£t tipon them for the neglect of their 
 Duty. Thus this : Greac Prince, knowing 
 how to keep an equal Ballance betwixt 
 Mercy and Severity, makes himfelf Loth 
 beîoved and fear’d by his Subje&s, who 
 thëreby are kept under a rnolt ftiift Ob- 
 ligation of performing their Duty. 
 
 As he is in his own Perfon the greatert 
 Eneray of Idlenefs’ and Lazinefs ; but tldé 
 gt eafeit Admirer of Buhnefs, vvfhout be* 
 me • lie ïcaft Iparing of his own Perfon, 
 {b î ; is his Ch; cfdt Study to prevent his 
 Subjeite ; but eipéciaüy tWTœrtars ; of the 
 Race of A'h ntcheou, fi om being ènfhâred 
 by.the Lûxhnous Life of th ç'Cbînefes, be- 
 îngA^nfiblè, 'that if thèy once were brought 
 to tred in the footfteps of the Chmefès i.i' 
 this Point, :t wo.uld bë Vverv dimcult 
 Task 
 
prefent Fmpcrour c/ China. ^9 
 
 Taskfor them to maintain themfelves in 
 China , which théy Conquered with a 
 Handful of Men ; only, bècaufe they ave 
 inuved to ail raanner of Hardfhips , as 
 theiv Enemies were fwallowed up in Lux- 
 ury, which had rendred them quite Effe- 
 minate. 
 
 Tis for this Reafon that the Emperour, 
 who is a great Mafter in the Politicks of 
 this Government, fends very rarely any 
 of the Tartars as Mandarins to the Sou- 
 thern Provinces of the Empire, where 
 "they are more addicted to this Vice thàn 
 in other Parts ; and, if he is fometimes 
 obliged to fend fmne .thither, he recalls 
 them as foon as poffibly he can. Tis for 
 the famé Reafon of State, that lie goes fo 
 frequently abroad a Hunting ; and that 
 almoft every year he takes once, if not 
 tvvice, a Progrefs into the Mountainous 
 parts of Tartary. 
 
 For, his Guards and Officers of the 
 Koufhold, as well as moft of the Great 
 Men of the Court, or Chief Commanders 
 or his Forces, and other Mandarins of the 
 Court of Peking, being obliged by théir 
 Places ( at leait each in his Turn,) to at- 
 tend the Emperour’s Perfon wherever he 
 goesjit is upon thefe Occafions, that by his 
 Example, he animâtes them to endure the 
 Fatigues of the Campaign, and to follow 
 him wherever he leads the Way, where 
 he is fuie never to be fparing of his Per- 
 ibiî. • 
 
 D 4 For 
 
The bfiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 For in thefe Progreffes you Ihall fee 
 film appear in a very common Habit, 
 |brnefimes. a whoie day.pn Korfeback , 
 travelling the Mpuntains and pondis, fo 
 that he tires fométimes pine or ten Horfes 
 ip a day ; and oftentimes, according to 
 the difpofition of the Ground, does not 
 grudge to march on foot for a conlîdera- 
 ple time. 
 
 ‘ When he returns at Night tohisTent, 
 lie is fo far fiom taking any Repofe, that he 
 ht:’ iifparches ail Matcersbeforehira, in the 
 famé manner, as if he were in.his Pallace 
 ziVehjhg. lie perufes. and takes an Ac- 
 count of ail Pétitions laid before him, 
 without delay, wHich oftentimes takes up 
 good part of the. blight, fp that he fpares 
 thefe hours from his Sleep. whiçh he has 
 employed in the pay-time for his Diver- 
 lian. And it is observable, that he leads 
 tbis fort of Life not for four or five days 
 qply, but lbmetipaes for three or four 
 Months togeçher, .without înteilnillîon. . 
 
 Father Gcrbillon, who among ail the Je- 
 faire attends him mbit frequently in his 
 Progreffes, has attefted to prie> That he 
 has feen him often ail coveied with Dulï 
 and Sweat, continue the Chafe, without 
 changing his Linen or Cioaths after they , 
 came to the appointed Place of reft j and 
 that he has feen him for feveral Hours to- 
 gether, fitting and expofing , himfeif to 
 the Heat of the Rays of the Sun, without 
 an Vmbrello , ivhfch conllantly attend Hirn. 
 frhe lever he ftirs, in great Nurnbsrs. 
 
 I 
 
pj cÇèat Emferbur ofÇliim. 
 
 I hâve heard the famé Author, Gcrb'tllon , 
 relate it to others of our Society, That in 
 onevof hb Progreffes, ar a great diftance 
 frojn Pekf”g> the Emperour and hb Court 
 were forced to pitch their Tents in a place 
 where it was very difficult to be fupplied 
 with any other Provifions, but what the 
 Place afforded, io, that moft of his Jle- 
 tinue were forced to be contented with 
 Beef and Mutton , of which you meet 
 with good Store in Turtary, The Empe- 
 rour, to let them fee, that at this Junérure, 
 he could iive and be fatisfied with what 
 the reft had, ordered, That nothing but 
 Beef and Mutton fhould he Serv’d upon 
 his Table, till iuch time that they receiv 'd 
 new Supplies of Provifions, fufficient for 
 ail the reft of his Attendance, 
 
 By thefe Means he encourages his Sub- 
 jecls to ufe themfelves to undergo ail forts 
 Of Fatigues , being never fparing of his 
 pwn Perfon upon fuch like Oçcafions ; 
 as on the other hand, fie is fure to lay fome 
 Mortification or other upon thbfc, whom 
 he finds addi&ed to an Idle and Lazy 
 . Life. 
 
 For which reafon, to prevent the Chil- 
 dreiîof the Chief Men of his Court, of 
 the Tort ar tan Race, or of thofe Cbinefes t 
 vyho hâve efpoufed their Intereft, from 
 embracing an idle Life, hemakes it his con- 
 ftant Cuftom to prefer them tu fuch pla- 
 ces as are not to be Officiated without a 
 gieat deal of .Trouble, 
 
The Hïjloyy of CANG RY, 
 
 So foon as they are of a fit Age no go 
 abroad, he makes them take care and lead 
 his Hounds, when he goes a Hunting, o- 
 thers he employs in managing his Hawks 
 and other Birds of Prey. Some aie em- 
 ployed in boiling Tea and other Difhes 
 for his Ufe, and in Serving them at his 
 Table ; fome in making Bows and Ar- 
 rows for his own and his SonV Ufe. Thofe 
 who are to be preferr’d before others, by 
 reafon of their Great Quality, or on 
 whom the Eroperour intends to beftow 
 fome particular Favour, are made Man* 
 isLttrins of his Guards , who lead a very 
 Toilfome Life , being obliged by their 
 Station to be upon the Guard both Day 
 and Night, at leail one day in fix, to at- 
 tend every Morning early at Court, and 
 to foilow* the Emperour in his Piogref- 
 jès. 
 
 As they are commonly chofen ont of 
 thofe who hâve confiderable Fortunes ro 
 expect from their Parents or Kindred > io 
 they are the better qualified to bear the 
 Expences of chefe Journeys, winch are 
 very chargeable, and would be the ruine 
 of People of Moderate Eftates, by reafon 
 of the great number of Korfes and Ser- 
 vants they are obliged to carry along with 
 them, when they are a Hunting in remote 
 places, where meeting fometimes with in- 
 habitable Défait?, they are forced to pro- 
 vide themfelves aforehand with ail manr.er 
 of Neceflaries for their Suiknance and 
 Çonveniency. 
 
 f'L * Beiîdes, 
 
prefent Empereur of China. 43 
 
 Befidss, that thereby thefe young Gen- 
 tlemen aie inured to ail manner of Fa- 
 tigués and Hardfhips, the Emperour like- 
 wife reaps this Advantage by their con- 
 fiant Attendance upon his Perfon , to 
 meet vvith frequent Opportunities to ap- 
 p; ove their Ability ; according to which 
 they are afrerwards Advanced to the moft 
 Eminent Dignities in the Empire. 
 
 Ail thefe beforementioned Qualificati- 
 ons, would queftionlefs be judgedmore 
 than fufficient among other Nations, to 
 place this Prince among the meft Farrous 
 Héros; But the Cbinefe s, who meafure 
 the Ability. and Qualifications of Great 
 Perfons to be entrulted with the Manage- 
 ment of püblick Affairs , by their Skill 
 and Knowledge in ail manner of Arts and 
 Sciences., would fcarce lcok upon him, 
 
 ( as they do ) as pne of the Greatell Mo- 
 îiarchs that ever afcended rhe Cbinefe 
 phrone, if he were not as well Accom- 
 piifhed in this, as in other Matters. 
 
 It is without quellion, for no other rea- 
 fon, than to conform himfelf to the pré- 
 dominant Genius of the Cbinefe. Nation, 
 that heappUed himfelf with fo much Al- 
 fiduity to the Study of ail the Learuing 
 and Sciences in vogue among the Chine [es, 
 that there are few Books of Note in that 
 Language, but what he has taken the pains 
 to perulè. 
 
 Fiehas gota great part of the Works 
 of Confucius by heart ; thefe beirig ccnfi- 
 dered among t hç Chimfit, as the- Origi- 
 nale 
 
Tk' H'flajof CÂMG-HY, 
 
 mis of ali theîr Sacred Books, and reve- 
 renceid as fuch. Tq attain tp a more per- 
 FeCt underftanding of ail the moft difficult 
 Partages therein contained, be has caufed 
 certain Çommentariçs tq be made upon 
 them for his o yvn IJie, both in the Chincfe 
 and Tartarid/t Languages, by rhe moft A- 
 ble DoCtors of the Empire ; many of 
 \vhom were empîoyed for ten or twelve 
 Years together, to bring this Work to per- 
 fection ; and at the famé time to explain 
 theText to the Emperour. The better 
 to lhew his Vénération for this mort an- 
 tient DoCtrine of the Chiffes , he did 
 Icompofe the Préfacés himfelf, which were 
 put before each of thefe Commentants, 
 and publifhed by his Authority. 
 
 He likewife caufed the UniverfaI Hiftory 
 of China, to beTranflated into tfieTartarian 
 Language ; and the fïrft Tranrtation not 
 being. fo exaCt in ail its parts as he dertred, 
 he.qrdered a feconcj to be made, which as 
 it was more perfeCt, fo it was augmented 
 withfome additional Notes, fqr the bet- 
 ter underftanding of fome dijfficul^ parta- 
 ges. He is fo abfolute a Mafter of the 
 ivhole Body of this Hiftpry, that, not- 
 withftanding its vàft extent, yo.u can fcavce 
 mention any partage in it,' but what oc- 
 curs immediately to his'Memqry. 
 
 ’ Of this' we had the oppprtunity to cb- 
 ferve a moft remarkabje Inftance about iix 
 years ago. The Emperour had ordered a 
 certain Infcription to be made .upon. the 
 Touib ûf his Uncîe' on the Mothers-fide, 
 . s ’ ; t ■ ’ 1 s\ho 
 
frefent Empereur of China*' 45 
 
 who hâd noc long before loft hîs Life in a. 
 
 Battle fought in .TWtarf againft the i£ing 
 of Elnth, who is one of the tVeft-Tart/iri- 
 an Princes, and had with a confiderable 
 Force invaded the Frontiers of China, 
 
 The Doftor who , was pitch’d upon to 
 compofe it, and who was look’d upon 
 as one of the beft of the Impérial College, 
 had ; by whatmiftake, I know not, icade 
 a: comparifon betwixt this Uncle of the 
 Empevour and a Famous General ameng 
 the Chinefss , who in effeft, hâd deferveü- 
 ly acquired the Réputation of a Brave 
 and Great General ; but , who befideg 
 other ill Qualifies, was itigmatiz'd for, 
 want of Loyal ty to his Prince: As fbc 
 the r eft, the ■ whole was extrfeamly weli 
 done, lo it met with the general Approba- 
 tion of ail the Do&ors, who were to re- 
 vifeit, and of the Prefident of thé Col- 
 lege himfelf, who being at the famé time 
 P refident of the Tribunal of Ritef, did 
 prefent it to the Emperour, who ahvays 
 taker notice of any thing of Moment, 
 
 But what had efcaped the Sagacity of 
 fo many Learned Doéîors, who are con- 
 lidered here as Oracles of ail the Sciences 
 known among the Chinefes, and who by 
 theiF Profelîion, oughü to be particularly' 
 weli vers'd in Hiftory, was at firft fight 
 difeovered by the Emperour. For, thi? 
 Prince, recaliing to his Memory, beyond 
 what ail ■thé' reft had done, the Defeéts 
 chatged upon this General in the Chine fe 
 Hiftory, who had liV'éd ,above two thou-, 
 fand' 
 
The Bijlory of CANG-HÎ, 
 
 fand years before ; and betng fen/ible thar 
 this Comparifon would rather tend to the 
 Difhonour of his llncje, than to tranfmit 
 his Great Name to pofierity ; after he had 
 ftrittly examined ail theCircumftances 
 of the Matter, he refolved to punifh this 
 Overfight' in the Doélor, who had been 
 the Author of the Infcription, by Baniîh- 
 kig hirn into the Province of Leaotong ; 
 and the P rendent, who had the Reviling 
 of it, with the Lofs of his Place. 
 
 The prefent Emperonr is likewife well 
 vers d both in the Rhetorick and Poetry 
 of the Chinefes , being a nice Judge both 
 of the Ckinefe and Tartarian Languages ; 
 both which he Writes in with the greàteft 
 Exaftnefs imaginable, and excels in Po- 
 Htenefs of.his Speech, the moft refinedof. 
 ail his Courtiers. To be fihort; there is 
 not any kind of Learning in China, but 
 ■what he is a Great Mafter of. He is very 
 CuriOus in his Library, which is com- 
 pofed of ail. the Valuable Books to be 
 met with in the whole Empire ; and many 
 of approved Ability are employed , to 
 fearch in ali places after good Books, ont 
 ôf which the Emperour frequently diufes 
 fuch, as he judges fit to hâve a place in 
 his Library. 
 
 Befides thefe, there are many others, 
 whofe confiant Bufinefs it is, to Tran/late 
 the befi Çhmefe Books into the Tartarian 
 Languagel which is a great Addition to 
 the laftfaaid a vafi Advantage efpecially to 
 the Tartan of Manchon, as well as to the' 
 Milliona- 
 
p’eftnt Empcrour of China» 
 Milfiomries, tHeÿ being not well vers’d in 
 the Chinefe Characfers, by reafon of their 
 great variety, could otherwife not attain 
 to the Knowledge of the Chinefe Lan- 
 guage, and coniequently of their beft 
 Books, without Vpplying themfelves for 
 feveral years to thac Study, which by the 
 Convemency of thefe Tranflations, ( eaiie 
 to be underftood in comparifon of the 
 Chinefe Language ) they apprehend with- 
 out any great difficulty. 
 
 The Arts and Sciences ôf the Chincfes, 
 are- not the only Delight of this Prince ; 
 for as he judges with the greateft Nicety 
 and Exaclnefs of every thing he thinks 
 worth his taking notice ôf ; fo there is not 
 any Science in Europe, that ever came to 
 his Knowledge, but he Jfhewed a great 
 Inclination to be inftruâed in it. The 
 firft Occafion which had a more than ordi- 
 nary Influence upon his Mind, happened 
 ( as he was pleafed to tell us himfelf ) up- 
 on a Différence arifen betwixt Tang quan- 
 fisn, the Famous Author of the lait Per- 
 fecution in China, and Father Ferdinand 
 Verbiefi, of the Society of Jefm. The 
 Difpute was concerning the Chinefe Aftro- 
 nomy, which this Impcftor maintain’d to 
 be very perfeft, and not to want any Re» 
 formation from the Europe an Aftronomers, 
 tho' it was well knowri, that he under- 
 ifood neirher. Tis true, he was tnade 
 Prefident of the Mathematical Tribunal ; 
 But for his Advancement to this Dignity, 
 he was not fo inuch beholding to his Abi- 
 
The Hiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Iity, as to his perverfed Zeal for the an- 
 tient Rites of his Couutry and Religion j 
 in oppolîtion to thofe who endeavoured to 
 fpread the Chriftian Doctrine among the 
 Chinefes . > 
 
 Notwithftanding whicb , mort of the 
 Chief Mandarins of die Court, who were 
 not well vers’d in Matters of this Nature, 
 and prepoffefled with a good Opinion of 
 things in relation to their Native Country. 
 Thofe aifo who were Members of the 
 Mathematical Tribunal, jealous of their 
 own Réputation ; and looking upon itas 
 a lignai Affront to fee themfelves Corre- 
 &ed by Foreigners, did with ail their 
 Main and Might efpoufe Tang-quangfien s 
 Quarrel. Some fevv Perfons of Authori- 
 ty and Crédit there were, who, without 
 the leaft regard to their own Intereft , 
 frequently declared in ail places wherever 
 there was the leaft Opportunity, That the 
 Calculations of the Ephemerides made by 
 the Europe an Fathers Miffionaries, were 
 always conformable to the moft exact Ob- 
 fervations they could- make ; wliereas on 
 the contrary, the Calculations of the Chi-, 
 xefes , fbunded upon the Principles of 
 their Aftronomy , prôved always defe- 
 ctive, ' : • ' i 
 
 The. Emperour was then fcarce 
 feventeen years of Age ; and there was, 
 at dut time a grand Combination of ail' 
 the Tribu nais againft the Europe#;-! Allro- 
 qomy, who in a General Aftêmbly, held- 
 for dut pu-ipofe, refolved to requéft the! 
 
 Empe- 
 
peÇçh } Étnf/féàr of China . 
 
 Emperour to give a Decifive Sentence in. 
 Faveur of the Cbinefe Afttonotny. But 
 heproceeded with more Caution in this 
 Matter, than could be expe&ed fiotn his 
 Age; For.being refol ved tq take çQgni- 
 zance of the Matter Iximfelf, and to îtop , 
 the Mouth of'all the Vain Pretenders to 
 this Noble Science, he fent both to Father 
 Verhiefi and Yang quang fan, who appear- 
 ing in the' Council to give an account of 
 what vvas to bë propofed to thera, he ask- 
 ed them in publick, whether they could 
 by Tome Experriment or other make it 
 appear to the Eye, which of thefe two 
 Aftronomers was the moi! exaél in its 
 Calculations ? Yang- quang fan ftood mute, 
 but Father Verbiefl oifered to the Empe- 
 reur, That if His Majefty would appoint 
 a Stick to be given of what length lie 
 pléafed, that he and Yang- quang fan would 
 endeavour to détermine exaftly in what 
 place the Shadow of it müft fall t’îe nexc 
 day at.Noon. The Emperour having âp- ‘ 
 pioved of this Proportion, and fixed a 
 certain Stick, Father fferbieji immediately 
 werit to work, and by his Calculation de- 
 inonftrated in what place the Shadow pull 
 fall preciiely at Npon the next day. Fa- 
 ther Verbieft’ s Calculation having been ful- 
 ly proved by the Event, and Yitng-quang- 
 fan riot being able to caiculate it, or to 
 give any other Ocular demonftration of 
 what was propofed to him, the Emperour 
 declared in favour of the 1 Europe an Aliro- 
 
 FP.my. 
 
 Scon 
 
 E 
 
The Hiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Soon af'ter he ordered feveral more de- 
 monftrationtobemade, which of thefetwo 
 Calculations was the moft proper for the 
 Ephemerides and Obfervations of the Ec- 
 clipfes ; and which His Majefty caui'ed to 
 be prefent, not only the Mandarins of the 
 Tribunal of Rites, but alfo feveral of the 
 Great Men of his Court, in whom he con- 
 fided moft, and from whom he expected 
 to î eceive an exact Account of every thing 
 that fhould be trajila&ed in this Affair. 
 Accordingîy ail thefe Obfervations having 
 been. found conformable in ali refpcbts to 
 the European Calculations, the Empereur 
 commanded that they fhould be réceived, 
 and made ufe of in China, accord ing to the 
 Tranfiauon made by Father Adam Shall , 
 into the Cbinefe Language, under the laft 
 Empereurs Reign. which accordingîy was 
 put in execution, and continues thus to 
 rhis day. ' 
 
 As this Tryal of SfesJl in the Mathema- 
 ticks was the firft Occaiîo n that introduced 
 the Father Miiïionaries into the Empe-: 
 rour’s acqùaintanee fo from that time, 
 he always fhew’d a great inclination to be 
 inftructed in the Mathematical Sciences, 
 which in effè&, aie in great Efteeem a- 
 mong the Chinefes. It is to be admired, that, 
 being then of Age, which Princes and 
 Great Perfonages feldom are feen to ad- 
 dict to Study, he did .apply himielf to it 
 with fq much Afiiduity, that he made it 
 his Chiefelb Delight , facrificing ail his 
 fpare Honrs to this Study, ' Du- 
 
p refent Emperour of China. 
 
 During the fpaceof tvvo YeaiSjFatherrcr- 
 £«ÿ?înftrüfl?ed hitti in the Ufefulnefs of the 
 beftof the Matheifiatical Inftruments, and 
 in what elfe was moitCurious in Geometry, 
 the Statique, and Aftronomy ; for which 
 purpofe he wiote feveral Treatifes. It 
 was alfo about the famé rime, that he 
 took firft to our Mufick, under the Tuiti- 
 on of Father Peyrera, who not only com- 
 pofed an entire Treatife of Mufick, but 
 alfo caufed feveral Europe an Inftruments 
 to be made for the Emperour ’s ufe ; upon 
 fiûmeof which, he taught Iiim to play 
 fbme Tunes. 
 
 The civil Commotions, which happened 
 not long after, did fomewhat interrupt, 
 but not fupprefs his firlt Attempts of this 
 kind. For, he employed fome of his fpare 
 Hours, (notwithftanding his continuai Fa- 
 tigues]andBufinefs,the eftecls of thefe remar- 
 kableRevoIutions which happened in China), 
 to the répétition of thefe things he had 
 Ièamed before -, and the Fiâmes of thefe 
 Inteftine Bioils, being happily extinguilh- 
 ed by his Prudence ; and ail his Subjefts, 
 both of the Chinefe and Tartarian Race, 
 enjoying the* Fruits of Peace and Tran- 
 quility , by the PeaCe concluded about 
 fèven or eight years ago, with the Muf- 
 çovites ^ it was then that this Prince be- 
 gan to give frefh demonftrations of his 
 Peine to be inflru&ed in the Europe ht* 
 Sciences. 
 
The Htfiory of CANG-HY, 
 
 He did the Honpur to us four Je fuit s, 
 Miflionaries thcn ât Peking , to receive our 
 Inftru&ions , fometimes in the Chinefe, 
 fometimes in the Tartarian Language ; 
 but, as the Tartarian is not fo difhcult as 
 the Chitiefe , the Emperour being infornfd, 
 that Father GerbilLon and I, in about eight 
 Montbs time, had made fo much Àdvance- 
 ment in it, as to be underllcod tolerably 
 well ; he was pleafed to make ufe of us, 
 to expiain to him the Principles of thefe 
 Sciences , in the Tartarian Language. 
 The better to , accomplilh our feives, die 
 afligned us certain Mafters for a Month 
 together, who taught us e.very day in the 
 Tribunal of the Great Mafters of the 
 Eallace, ■ 
 
 Much about tjie famé time, Father An- 
 thony Thomas , did give him further In- 
 fh-uctions concerning the Uïe of the befr 
 Mathematical Inftruments, in the Ch'wefe 
 Language, and the pra&ical Part of Geo- 
 rnetry and Arithmatick, the principles of 
 which he had formerly been taught by Fa 
 ther Verbieft, He would alfo hâve us ex - 
 'plain him the Eléments of Euclid in the 
 Tartarian Language, being délirons to be 
 well inltruéled in them, as looking upon 
 them to be the Foundation, upon which 
 . to build the reft. 
 
 ; That every thing might be clone with as 
 much Eafe and Coiryeniency as çouîd be 
 wifh’d for, he affigned us a certain large 
 Appartment in tlie Pallace belonging to 
 the lace Emperour. his Father ’s Lodgingsg 
 : . ' where, 
 
préféra Emperour &f China. • 
 where, he himfelf ufed frequently to dine, 
 and pafs many Hours in the Day, before 
 we were weli in pofleffion of it. Here 
 we were furnifhed plentifuHÿ with every 
 thing We ftood in need of, and that in a 
 moft obliging manner in the World. For 
 every Moniing early, we were attended, 
 and earried to the Pallace, by his own 
 Servants and Horfes, and were in the famé 
 manner conduéted back to our Lodgings 
 every Night. Two Mandarin of his 
 Houfhold, well vers’d in both Languages, 
 were appointed on purpofe to Aiïift us in 
 cur Works, and as many Scribes as we 
 pleafed, to write every thing fair. There 
 lcarce pafs’d a day, but we were calfd in 
 to thê Empereur, who heard our LelTons 
 wit!i a great deal of Attention, and of- 
 tentimes he would beftow whoîe Hours 
 tôgether irr our Company, to hear and re- 
 peat our Explications ; to make the Fi- 
 gures himfelfi and ask many Queltions 
 concerning what remain’d as yet doubtful; 
 and when we bad given ont Refolutions, 
 both by way, and Mouth, and in Wrïting, 
 he would beftow much of his leifure 
 Time, to make his Répétitions in pri- 
 Vate. 
 
 He did not neglect at the famé time to ex- 
 ercife himfelf frequently in the Calculati- 
 ons and Ufè of Mathemâtical Inftruments, 
 and in the re-iterated Répétitions of the 
 chiefeft ; Propofîtions of Enclid } the bet- 
 ter . to imprint into his Mind their Demon- 
 ftration 5 and by this extraordinary ApplF 
 E 3 cation. 
 
54 
 
 The Hijlory of CÂNG-HY, 
 
 cation, he made the Eléments of Euchd 
 familiar to hirafelf in five or fix Months, 
 that it was impdfible to fhew him any Ma- 
 thematical Draught or Figure, having re- 
 lation to any of the Propofitions of 
 clii, but that lie immediately remembred 
 both the Proportion and its Demonfha*-. 
 tion ; having ( as he was pleafed to 
 tell us himfelf read them over at leaft 
 twelve times one after another. Wedid 
 Tranflate ail themoft neceifary Propofi- 
 tions of, Excitât and their Demonftrations 
 into the Ta.rta.rhn Language, for his ufe, 
 as well as thé choiceft of Arcbimeàe s Pro- 
 pofitions And with the famé Readineis 
 he would retnembçr the Praéfick and ufe 
 of the Compals of Proportion , of the 
 beft Mathematical Inftrumeuts of Geo- 
 metry and Avithmatick. 
 
 Suchwas his eager Defire toattainto 
 the perfecl Knowledge of thefe Things, 
 that nothing was able to prevent or hinder 
 his Refolution ; neither the various In- 
 ftances that occur in this Study, nor our 
 wantofSkill in the Language. For, if 
 he with any demonftration which he did 
 not well apprehend at firft, either becaufe 
 it was more intricate than the reft, .or be- 
 caufe we wanted proper words tô explain 
 our felves clearly in a foreign Language, 
 he would reàdily ask fometimes one, fome- 
 times another of us, and that at three or 
 four feveral times, which way the famé 
 was to be underflood ; and if ic happened 
 fometimes that we had not the good for- 
 , tune 
 
prefent Empereur of China, 
 
 tune to give kim a clear Idea of the ma£- 
 ter at that time, he would not grudge to 
 defer the further Explication of it, to 
 another time , a convincing Inftance 
 of lus raoft Admirable Patience and 
 Attention. He was pleafed to tell us onè 
 time upon this account, fpeaking of his 
 own Perfon ; that he never thought he 
 cduld hâve too much patience in reference 
 of thefe Matters, which abfolutely requit 
 it; and, that from his very Infancy, he 
 had always applied himfelf, to whatever 
 he undertook, vvith a great deal of At- 
 tention and Conftancy. 
 
 After he was fufficiently inftru&ed in 
 the Eléments of Geometry, heordered us 
 to compile a whole Syftem of both the 
 Theoirick and Pra&ick of Geometry, in 
 the Tartarian Language, which we after- 
 wards explain’d to him in the famé man- 
 ner as we had done with the Eléments of 
 Euclid. At the famé time, Father Thomas 
 made a Colleflüon of ail the Calculations 
 of Geometry and Arithmaticks ( in the 
 Chinefe Language) containing moft of the 
 Curious Problems extant, both in the Eu- 
 ropéen and Chinefe Books, that treat of 
 this matter. f 
 
 ; He was lo much delighted in the purfuic 
 of thefe Sciences , that befides betwixt 
 two and three Hours, whicli were fet afide 
 every day on purpofe to be fpent in oui 
 Company, he beftowed moft of his leifure 
 time, both m'thédaÿ and at nigKtin his 
 Studies, Tis to be obferved , That this 
 E 4 Prince 
 
56 The Hijlory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Prince, as he is a declared Enemy of a 
 Lazy and Idle Life, fo he never go’s to 
 Bed but very late, ahd rifes eariy ; from 
 whericje.it came, that, tho' we were al- 
 ways very careful in being at Court ear'ly 
 in the Morning, it happened frequently, 
 that before we could get out of doors, he 
 had already fent for us, either to Revife 
 fome of his Calculations , or perhaps a 
 new Froblem ; For it is almoft incredible, 
 with what Affiduity he appiies himfelf to 
 inveftigate fome new Problems, which 
 hâve fome reference to thpfe that hâve 
 been ex?plain’d to him before ; and how: 
 hè did make it his chief Divertifement, to 
 put in pra&ife whatever he had learmd 
 of moft Curious in Geometry, and to per- 
 fe£t himfelf in the Management of the 
 moft ufeful Mathematical Inftruments. - 
 For which purpofe, befides thofe that 
 were formerly prefented to his Fa- 
 ther ( which were carefully preferved by 
 hisOrders ) he. caufed many more to be 
 made, the management of ali which he 
 could learn to underftand, even to the 
 Niceft Point. Thefe were committed to 
 the Care of Father Peyrera , and Father 
 Suarez , , who beiiig two Perfons that 
 fpared no pains in Encpuraging the Empe- 
 rour’s Zeaî, did manage the whole to the 
 entire Satisfaction of Lis Majefty. 
 
 We on our fide, were likewife not nég- 
 ligent in obliging the Emperour with what 
 Mathematical Inftruments we had in pur 
 Cultody, proper for his Ufe, among whiich 
 
 was 
 
ptefeni Fruptrour of China, 
 was a very fine and large* Demycircîe, 
 fitted for Geometrical Operations, be- 
 ing a prefent of the Duke de Marne. This 
 he did not onlÿ make frequent ufe of in 
 the Gard éns oT his Paiiace, but dkewife 
 in his Progrefles, when it was a ! ways car- 
 ried upon the Back of on'e of the Manda- 
 r'ms of his Ho' fhoid , who notwithfiand- 
 ing its Weight, was nor a iittie pioud of 
 the Honour in being intrufted with this pre- 
 cious Burthen. By the help of tins In- 
 finiment, he wouid frequentîy meafüre 
 fometimes the height of a nêjghboiuing 
 Mountain, fometimes the difiance of tome 
 remarkable place or other, and that in the 
 prefence of his whole Court, who were fur- 
 prized to fee that their Emperouvmanaged 
 thislnftrument, and performed the Opera- 
 tions with the famé dexterity and good 
 fuccefs, as Father Gerbillon a Jefnîte , who 
 aiwaÿs üfed to attend His Majefty in his 
 Progretfes. 
 
 Immediately after onr firft arrivai at 
 ' Peking , we prefented him with two ex- 
 cellent Machines, in which one might ob-' 
 ferve the Eclipies of the Sun and Moon, 
 with the different Afpeéls of the Piantts, 
 for every day in the Year, and for many 
 Ages together. We ftand indebted for thé 
 Invention of thefe two moft Curious Ma- 
 chines, to thofe of the Acddsrnj Roy A, 
 The Empereur having commanded üs to 
 fhew lïim the perfeft Ufe of them, and 
 how to’apply them to the Chineje Caien- 
 dar, ordered thefe two Machines to be 
 placcd 
 
TkeHiftoryofC ANG-HY, 
 
 placed on each fide of his Throne, in one 
 of the Principal Appartments of his Pal- 
 lace, where I faw them ftanding but the 
 day before my departure out of Pehing ; a 
 moft convincing Proof of the great E- 
 iWem the Empereur has for thefe as well 
 as ail other curious 'and ufeful Mathema- 
 tical Inftruments. 
 
 ; Ëver fince that time, he has jfhewn a 
 molt particulas Inclination and Efteem 
 both for the Frencb Mathematical Inftru- 
 ments, and other Works and Curious Gon- 
 trivances » thofe we had the Honour toof- 
 fèr to His Majefty, having had the good 
 Fortune to meet with his Approbation a- 
 bove ail the reft. • • 
 
 . It was no wonder if the Èfteem the 
 Eraperour had for the Éuropean Mathema- 
 tical Inftruments, foon influenced moft of 
 the Great Men at Court to tred in his 
 fhotfteps; and' if thoie who honour us 
 with their good Will and: Favours, do of- 
 tén engage us , to let lome be brought o- 
 ver for them ; being fenfijîle that they 
 cannot make their Court with better hopes 
 of Succefs, than by raaking a P refont of 
 Ibme Curious Mathematical Invention Or 
 Other, to the Eraperour, who not only 
 receivesveiy favourably, all'what isoffer- 
 edhim in this kind, but lhews' fo much 
 Eagernefs for his being furniflied with 
 them from ail Parts, that he has caufod ail 
 the Meathematical Inftruments, that were in 
 thehands of theGovernours of theMaritime 
 Provinces , to be brought to Pçkjng- 
 
 fo 
 
prefent Empereur of Chinâ. 
 
 T b encourage this Noble Defire, we fent 
 to our Brothers the Fathers , Fontenay le 
 Comte and Vifdelou , to j defire them to tjjr- 
 nilh us with fuch Inftruments as we judg- 
 ed moft proper for the Emperour ’s ufe 
 Thefe Fathers fent us feveral of the moft 
 Curious Mathematical Inftruments, fome 
 Pbofyborm’ s, both folid and liquid , and 
 other. fuchlike Rarities ; which we having 
 made a Pvefent 6f tothe Emperour, here- 
 ceived them with ail the Marks of Joy, and a 
 moft particular Efteem.- But thefe Fa- 
 thers, being aftenvards invited by the Em- 
 perour to his Court, they and their Pre- 
 fents met equally with the moft obiiging 
 Receiption in the World. Among feverai 
 other ' Mathematical Inftruments they 
 prefented to His Majefty, there were lè- 
 verai Levels with two Pexàulums, to di- 
 ftinguifhthe Seconds, for Cœleftial Ob- 
 fervations, which by reafon of their great 
 Exaânefs and Ufefulnefs , being higbiy 
 extolfd by the Emperour, ho alfign'd 
 them convenient Places in his own Bed- 
 chamber ; And the Prince, who is de- 
 çjared Succeftour of the Empire, and 
 fhews no lefs Inclination for thefe Curiofi- 
 lies than his Royal Father, being extream- 
 ly taken with them, and difeovering his 
 Intention to us, I went ftraight ways te 
 dur Houfe, and prefented hirn with thé 
 onely of the famé kind,. I had lert, which 
 he accepted of in a moft extraordinary o- 
 bliging manner. 
 
 Afteî 
 
The Hiftory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Âfter we had compleated our Explica- 
 tions both of the P r ait i cal and Spéculative 
 Geometry, in the famé Method- as we had 
 made ufe of before , when we inftru&ed 
 the Emperour in the Eléments of the Eh- 
 clid, he fhew’d fo much Satisfailion in 
 having attain.ed to this Noble Science, that, 
 to give the World fome manifeft Proofs of 
 his Efteem for thefe Works we had corn- 
 pofed, he ordered them to be Tranflated 
 ont of fhe TartarU n into the Chlnefe L^an- 
 guage. He himfelf took the pains to pre- 
 fix a Préfacé to each of them, and to nave 
 them Revifed and printed in hidôwuPal- 
 lace, and to hâve them pu&ifhed through- 
 out the whole Empire in both Languages, 
 as a moi! évident Sign of his laudable in- 
 tention, to introduce the Européen Sciences 
 into China, and to render them familiar to 
 ail his Subjects ; and having obferved in 
 his third Son, ( who is a young Prince of 
 about feventeen years of Age, and endowed 
 with many NobleQualificationsJ a more than 
 erdinary Genius for thefe Sciences, he taught 
 him the Principles of Geometry in perfon. 
 
 I do not quetlion but there are not a 
 few, who will look upon this fo Extra- 
 ordinary Inclinations • and Àffiduity to- 
 wards thefe Sciences ( which without ail 
 Contradiction, are not fufficientlÿ to be 
 praifed in a private perfon ) as rather 
 blameable than commendable in fo Great a 
 Prince, who bears the Weight of fo valt 
 ;m Empire as that of China, upon ..his 
 S'uouiders 5 But, if we will take the pains 
 
p refait Emperonr of China. Ci, 
 
 to make diie Reflections upon the due 
 Çhara&er and prefent State of the Chlnefe 
 Empire and Nation, who at ail times hâve 
 made Learning the Foundation-ftone of 
 their Government , and the knowledge of 
 Sciences the Steps by which to afcend to 
 the higheft Dignities and Employments, 
 we fhall be forced to confefs, That the 
 Empereur "s Extraordinary paffion for, and 
 delight in thefe Sciences, ought to be con- 
 fidered as the Effets of a moll refined 
 piece of Policy of France, who has an 
 abfolute infight into the true Nature of the 
 Art of Government. 
 
 It is undeniable, that of Iate years, if 
 you except Moral Philofophy, which is 
 the principal "Study that meets with En- 
 couragement among the Modem Cbînefe. r. 
 
 This Nation has megle&ed moi! of thefe 
 Sciences, 'which rendred their Anceftors 
 Famous to Pofterity, and were queftion- 
 lefs the Chief Caule of the flourilhing 
 Condition of their Empire. The prefent 
 Empereur being infpired with a moft glo- 
 riôus Ambition to reftore the antient Glo- 
 ry of this Empire, lie judged nothing 
 could.be more ' conducing to attain this 
 Great End, than if he could receive thefe 
 moft ufefhl Arts and Sciences, which were 
 once the Glory of this Nation , and, by 
 his own Exàmple,- encourage his Subjecls 
 to follow his footfteps. 
 
 The Emperour being thus inftrucled in 
 ail the parts of Geometry, apply'd his 
 Thoughts to the Study oF Philofophy : 
 
 ' . For 
 
62 The Hijlory of CA KG- H Y, 
 
 For which Reafon, he cômmanded us to 
 Compile a Body of Philolophy in thé 
 Tarvirian Language , -and to folio w r the 
 famé Method we had obferved in our Ma- 
 thematical Treatifes, which appear'd to 
 him the moft eafie and natural. The Suc- 
 cefs, wherewith it had pleafed God hi- 
 êherto to biefs our Endeavours, encreafed 
 our Wiihes and Hopes of the famé, if not 
 better Succéfs in thîs ; and, as we werè 
 Fully perfwaded, that this might prove 
 bnedaythe moft proper Means, and be 
 conlèciuently of the ut moft Confequence 
 
 Learning, towards the receiving of the 
 Gospel i we w ere not (paring in any thing 
 which we thought raight contribute to- 
 wards the introducing a good Phllofophy 
 among them. 
 
 For this purpofe we confulted moft of 
 the Antient and Modem Philofophies t but 
 among ail of them, found norie more 
 fuitable for our Purpofe , than the An- 
 tient and Modem Philofophies Of Mr. 
 Duhamel, a Member of the RoyalAcaie- 
 my , by reafon of the Solidity, Purity, and 
 good Connexion of the Dodvine contain- 
 ed in this Trêatife whkh, therefore we 
 made our Guide to bring our Work to the 
 defired Efteft. 
 
 ; But the Emperour being about the famé 
 tlrne aftack’d bÿ a moft dangeroùs Di- 
 ftemper, it wàs the Ad vice of his whole 
 Oourtj and elpecbtlly of his Phyhciarïs, 
 
 iipou 
 
prefent Enjpeyour of China, 
 upon his Recovery, to defift for fome 
 time from his Studies, as being préjudici- 
 ai to the re-eftablilhment of his Health. 
 This Prince, being for the abovemention- 
 ed Reafon obliged to be more rem ifs in 
 his applications to thefe Sciences, we onïy 
 fhew’a him a fhort Logic, which we in- 
 tended as an Introduction to our Phifolo- 
 phical Work, of which we had given a 
 Scheme in a large Préfacé. It was upon 
 this fcore, that, in lieu of purfuing the 
 lame Method anq Purpofe we intendea be= 
 fore ; vve faw ôur felves under an indif- 
 penfîble Obligation to conform our felves 
 to the prefeot Dilpofition and particuîar 
 Inclinations of the Emperour ; which, as 
 we had obférved, being of late, for the 
 nioft part, bent upon the knowledge of 
 the Struéture of the Human Body, upori 
 its various Operations and raoft furprifing 
 Motions, we, contrary to our foi-mer De- 
 fïgn, applied our felves to Treat of this, 
 with the utmoft Care and Application. 
 
 But becaufe the Cbinefes, for ail their 
 great Réputation of having for many 
 yearspaft, had the àbleft Phylicians, hâve 
 at prefent but a very confufed Knowledge 
 in Anatomy ; we were f rced to extend 
 this Treatile to a much larger Bulk, thaii 
 weatfirft intended, and- to give a mie 
 Idea, firft of ail the Parts of the Humane 
 Body in general, and to treat of each af- 
 terwar,ds in particuîar ; and to veprefènt 
 the feveral Relations and Connexions be- 
 rwixt them, to give thera a right Idea of 
 
 the 
 
 63 
 
JÊ4 The Bifiory of Q ANG HY, 
 
 tlie whole Qcçonoma Animalis. We did 
 not negleft to infert in tins Treatife ail 
 the moft Curious and ufefal Difcoveries 
 of our Modem Anatomfts, efpeually thofe 
 qf Mr. Dm Ver ne y , and of fome other 
 Learned Members of the Royal Acaiemy, 
 who hâve diftinguilîied themfelves before 
 cthers in this , as well as in ail other 
 kind of Learning. 
 
 We fhew’d the Empereur twelve of 
 fourteen of thefe Proportions, with rheir 
 proper Figures and Explications, juif as 
 he was return’d out from one of his Pro- 
 
 f reffes, he frequently mrjtes into Tartary, 
 e was fo extreamly pléafed with them, 
 that, to fhew how much he was delighted 
 with them, he ordered his Chief Painter, 
 who is a Great Mafter of his Art, to lay 
 afîde ail other Things, and to make it his 
 whole Bufinefs to draw thefe Figpres with 
 ail the Exa&nefs he could. 
 
 Neverthelefs , as this Work requiftd 
 more Application and ÀlÇduity, than was 
 eonftftent with the Einperpur’s Healtli, 
 fo our Labour y/as interrupteh for fome 
 1 time by the Empereur s Çommand, whole 
 Curioftty inclining rather at that time to 
 the inveffigating the Caufes of fome of 
 the moft noted Diftempers, wherewith 
 he bad either been ; formerly, or was ftill 
 affili&ed ; he ordered us to endeavour to 
 inform him concerning the Caufes of thefe 
 Diftempers, according to the Pimciples 
 of our Modem European Phÿfiçiaps, 
 
 God 
 
préfetsi Empereur of China. 
 
 God Almighty, vvhd by his Providence 
 had given us this favourable Opportuni- 
 ty, to touch more effeétually the Fjeart of 
 this Great Prince in favQur of the Chrifti- 
 an Religion and its Minifters, did alfd 
 affiit us in making a Conhderable Prbgrefs 
 in this Matter. For in r o or three 
 Months timé, we writ iB or 20 fmall 
 Tréatifes, eaçh Treating of a certain Di- 
 ftemper in particuiar, purfuant to the Me- 
 th:d preferibed to us by the Emperour, 
 They met with the good Fortune of being 
 nôt only Approv’d, but alfo very pleafing 
 to the Emperour , who extolfd them iii 
 Püblick, and fent for us intô his Prefence, 
 to be Witneffes our felvés of,the Satisfa- 
 ction hé fhew’d upon this Ôccaiion. To 
 give us an ample proof of his Acknowledge- 
 ment, he pitch'd upon the raoil proper lle- 
 compenfe that could be beftowed ifpon 
 Miniiters of the Gofpel, and at our moft 
 Earneft Requeft , he, by his publick E- 
 di£l granted the free Exercife of our Re- 
 ligion, and confequently freed its Profef- 
 fors from thofe dangers that had threatned 
 them for many years îaft paftl 
 
 In fome of the firft of thefe Treatifes 
 we had, upon the occafion of fpeaking 
 of the internai Chimical Remedies, en- 
 larged our felves upon their E^cellencies, 
 in relpect of this Particuiar,' that befides 
 their Qualifies of Curing or givirig Eafe 
 in manÿ Diitempers, they .had this peca- 
 liar Prérogative ; before other Médianes, 
 that they were not fo naufeous, and taken 
 
66 The Ht (lory of CANG-HY, 
 
 in lefs quantity. r The Empereur having 
 conceived a particular Ciirioiity^ îo fee 
 fome Effets of it, was very delirous to 
 fee fome Experiments made of this kind. 
 Wedidall what in us lay to décliné this 
 province, in reprefenting to him, that wé 
 having no expérience in Matters of this 
 Nature, durit not attempt a ching of fuch 
 Moment ; But this Prince, who by fome 
 fmall things of this' Nature, he had ièen 
 us do before, judged that we might un- 
 dertake this alfo with the famé hopes of 
 Succefs, would not admit of dur excufes. 
 
 To work therefore we went, taking for 
 our Guide the Difpenfatory of the Sieur 
 Char as, DireCtbr of the Rojal Laboratorj ; 
 The Emperour affigifd us a large Room 
 within the Pallace, where we fet up a La- 
 boratory. Here you might hâve leen fe- 
 veral Sorts of Furiiaces, with moft Initiu- 
 ments and Utenfils requifite for Chimical 
 Operations ; which purfuarit to the Em- 
 perour’s Orders, who is never fparing 
 upon fuch like Occafîons, were ail of Sil- 
 ver. We were buiie in preparing feveral 
 Sorts qf Conserves, Lymphsand Eifences, 
 for three Months together, and the Em- 
 perour would fometimes honour us with 
 his Prefence, and took fuch particular Sa- 
 tisfaction in thofe Préparations, that he 
 ordered them to be preferv'd for his own 
 Ufe. 
 
 More than this, he caufed many Golden 
 and Silver VelTels to be made, in which he 
 câfrièd thefe Medicinés in his Progreifes, 
 which 
 
frefent Empereur of China, 
 which lie cook a peculiar Phanfie in, and 
 would give them upon occafion to his 
 Childrcn , the Great Men of his Court, 
 and others of his Àttendance. It muft 
 truly be confefs’d of this Prince, thathis 
 Natural “Inclinations are verÿ Chantable $ 
 for no fooner does hé hear of any of his 
 Servants being ill, but he fends his Phy- 
 ficians to them, and liberally furnifhes Ju-m 
 with what is moft precious among his Me- 
 dicines. Of this we hâve had feveral 
 times expérience our felves ; as often as, 
 any of us happened to be affii&ed with 
 any Diftemper. 
 
 We had the good Fortune to fee many 
 Sick people, and among them, lèverai of 
 tHe Emperour’s Houlhold, to be relie ved 
 by thefe Medicines we had brought along 
 with us out of Europe. The . Emperour 
 falling fick fome time after ; and having 
 for fome time made ufe of the Cbtnefe Re- 
 médies, but with litcle Succefe, had re- 
 courfe to ours, which produced the de- 
 fired effeef His Phyficiaris jealous of 
 their Réputation , did ail what in them 
 lay to redore him to his Health, but to 
 little purpofe, ail proving ineffeélual, ex- 
 cept the Quinquina, of whjch the two 
 Fathers, De Fontenaj a.nd Fifdelou, who 
 arrived very fortunateiy at.tbat tinte, had 
 brought â good Quantiïy aldng with them. 
 Heaven, which upon this as well as feve- 
 rsd other Occasions, was pleafed to give 
 ns a particular Mark of its Mercy j being 
 wilïfflg to make ufe of our Alhftance as* ' 
 Fa Re- 
 
The Hijloryof «ANG-HY, 
 
 Recompenfe to this Prince, for the Liber- 
 ty granted to the Profeflors of the Chrifti- 
 an Religion in the preceding Y ear ; and 
 as a further Engagement to extend his 
 Bonnty more and more towards the 
 Preachers of the Gofpel , to whom he 
 ftood indebted for the prefervation of his 
 Life , as he himfelf was pleafed publickly 
 to déclaré in the prefence of moft of the 
 Grandees of his Court. 
 
 There*are veity fevv wfio haVe tarryed 
 fbr any confiderable time at Pekjng, but 
 what know with how much Efteem and 
 Affeclion Father ; Verbiefi was received by 
 this Emperour ; but it is alfo undeniable, 
 that he never gave him fuch particular 
 proofs of his Efteem, as he did to us for 
 feveral years paft, whilft we had the Ho- 
 nour of being inftrumentàl in promôting 
 his Studies in the Mathematicks. 
 
 Thofe who are acquainted with the Chl~ 
 nefe Court, where evéry thing is carried 
 on with a iingular Grandeur, are not ig* 
 norant, how rare a thing it is to fee their 
 Empereurs enter into a familiar Converfa- 
 tion with their Subje&s ; and how difficulté 
 a thing it is, even for the Greateft Men in 
 the Empire, and the Princes of the Roy- 
 al B lood to approach his perfon, unlefs it 
 beùpon the Occafton of fome publick 
 Feftival, will perhaps be fcarce able to be- 
 lieve, that we had fo free an Admit- 
 tance ; efpecially confidering that we were 
 Religious perfons, and Foreigners. 
 
yrefent Emferour of C hina . 6 Ç 
 
 The whole Court hâve been eye-wit- 
 nefs f to their great Surprize ) of the pri- 
 vate Audiences and Conférences we had 
 auly every day , no body being admitted 
 to be prefent, but three or four Eunuchs 
 of the Empevour’s Bed-chamber; where 
 the Chief Subjeft of our Difcourfe was 
 eoncernlng ail manner of Sciences , the 
 Manners and Cuftoms, and vvhat elfe was 
 worch our Obfervation in the Eurobean, 
 and fome other States of the World.' As 
 there was not any Subjeft , where- 
 vvfth we ufed to en terrain this Prince 
 •with more pavticular Satisfaction, than the 
 Glofious Actions of Lereis the Great , fo I 
 can teftihe it my felf, That there was not 
 any thing of this Nature, in which he 
 took more delight to be inform’d in. At 
 laft, he gave us fuch ample Marks of his 
 great Elteeni, that he would abfolutely 
 command us to fit down near his fide ; an 
 Honour never granted before to any Bo- 
 dy fiving, unleis to his own Children. 
 
 But if he is lavifhing in his Bounty to- 
 wards us in privafce, he is not fparing of it 
 in publick, having given fufficient proofs 
 to the World, of a particular Affection 
 and Efteem. E’very body knows in what 
 manner Father Ferbiefi was honoured by 
 him, both in his Life-time and after his 
 Death. Very few are unacquainted in 
 what Splendid manner Father Thomas was 
 invited and received in China ; and how 
 tire firft five French Jefuits Mijfionaries , 
 were received with no lefs Kçnour at his 
 F 3 Court, 
 
70 Tbe Uiflory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Court. The Mafcovites hâve been eye- 
 witueffes of B'onours conferr d upon the 
 Fathers, ? errera and Gerbillon , at the 
 Treaty of Peace betwixt. their Plenipo- 
 tentiaries and thofe of China, about eight 
 Years ago. It was the Entertainment of 
 the whole Court of Pehing at that time, 
 when Father Grimalii was fent by the 
 ,prefent Emperour as his Envqy into MuC- 
 covj. I will leave it to others to teftifie, 
 how honourable I wasTreated by his Spé- 
 cial Orders, by ail the Governours of thé 
 Provinces, and others, and that frequent- 
 ly in the prefence of the Miffionaries of 
 feveral other Nations, and of the Englijh 
 and Portugefe Merchants ; efpedally, at 
 that time when I received his fpecial In- 
 ftruftions to go into France ; and how it 
 acquird me fo extraordinary a Réputa- 
 tion throùghout ail the Eaftern- parts , 
 
 ( even among the Enemies of our Na- 
 tion) as is fearce to be credited. 
 
 We indeed, as well as ail the other Je- 
 fuits, which formerly were entrufted with 
 any pubiicfc Employments by the Empe- 
 reur of China , made it our conftant Bu- 
 finefs to infinuate both to the , prince and 
 his Grandees, that we were not defirous 
 of thefe Honours, which were not very 
 agreeable. to the Humility taught by the 
 Gofpel 5 but infpite of ail, our Excufes, 
 h was the Empetour's Pleafure toheap 
 upon us , from time to time thefé publie!; 
 Marks of his Favour, Iooking upon them 
 ,.ê the jnoft proper Means to prompte our 
 . ‘ : / In-’ 
 
pre fient Emperour'ofi China. 
 
 Intereft, both among the Great Men and 
 common People -, and to give the more 
 Authority and Weight to the Profeffion 
 and Do&rine of the Chi'iftian Religion. 
 
 The famé Curiofity which had led the 
 Emperour towards the Improvement of 
 our Sciences, did alfo - induce him to be 
 ihforard concerning the Chief Points of 
 our Religion. The firffc knowledge of 
 them hedrewfrom divers Conful tâtions he 
 had with Father Verbiéfl, under pretext of 
 Gonferring with him about fome of the 
 molfc Valuable Sciences of Europe. Hé 
 has alfo read feveral Treatifes upon this 
 Subjeftp wiiich were prefented to him bÿ 
 fome of the Fathers Miflionafies. That 
 which he delighted in raoft was an excel- 
 lent Pieceof the Famous Jefuit , Father 
 Ricei, wliich he kept by him above fix 
 Months. You may believe we did not let 
 flip any Opportunity that offered, to fpeak 
 to him cor.cerning the true Principlesof 
 Chriftianity; He permits to the Jefuits 
 Miffionaries the free exercife of our Re- 
 ligion withitï rhe precinft of his own Pal- 
 lace *, and he has been often heard to fay, 
 that, to judge of the Chriftian Religion 
 according to its Principles and Progrefs it 
 had raade in China, he did hot quefticsn, 
 but that it \vould become the Eftablifhed 
 Religion there. 
 
 He has laid afide already many of the 
 moit antient Superftitions of the Chinefes. 
 As for inftance, there is fcarce any body 
 in China, ( unlefs he be a Chrillian ) but 
 F 4 . vvhat. 
 
7 2 
 
 ïbt Hijlorj q£, Ç 4 NG - H j , 
 
 what, if he is to undertake any thing of 
 Moment, cliufes a certain pay and Ho us, 
 to begin it in. There is a ipecial 4PP avt " 
 ment beionging to the Tribunal of the 
 Mathematicks, where their whole Bufi- 
 nefs is, to chufe by many Superftitiou* 
 .ways , Places , pays, and Hours, for 
 any thing o c Moment that is to be taken 
 in hand. Ic is no longer than in the Mi- 
 nority of this prefent Empeiour, that 
 three Afandarins of the Mathematical 
 Tribunal, were condemned by the Re- 
 gents of the Empire, to lofe their Pleads,. 
 for -no other Reaipn, than having been not 
 çareful cnoughin Obfervjng the exact 
 Hour, when the Empereurs Brothefs Fu- 
 neral was 1 to hâve been begun;, , they 
 looking upon this Negleft as omincus, if 
 not. Fatal to the whole Impérial Family. 
 
 ’Tis truc, the Emperouv has hitherto 
 oùt of a Principîe of Policy, not abo- 
 iifhed This Tribunal » but he lias mpre 
 than once told us himfelf, that lie makçs. 
 net the leali ReflécTion upon their O b- 
 fer va lions ; and ic is certain, that in ali 
 Matters_ relating to his ovvn Peifon, he 
 takes his Reio Luttons befbrehand, which 
 he aftervia.es fends to the Tribunal. 
 Tiras for infhnee ; when he’was go.ing to 
 Marry his eldeit Son, the Mathematical f 
 Tribunal 1 umo whom it beîongs ( accord-, 
 ing tp a molf ântient Cùftom among the 
 Chine fe; ) to déterminé which of the 
 veral Perfons propofed ought to be pre- 
 j rr d befbre the relf, receivecj his Initru- 
 fliohs 
 
pefent Fmferotir of China. 
 
 frions to chufe the famé Perfon the Em- 
 perour had pkch’d upon béfore, which 
 was done accord ingly. The famé Method 
 he makes ufe of when he intends to take 
 a Progrefs ; when he always fends his Or- 
 ders to this Tribunal, what day he intends 
 to fet out, and their Refolucions are al- 
 ways agreeabîe to his prefixed Time. 
 
 It is next to a Miracle, to fee a Prince 
 fo Potent, fo Abfolute, whofe Commands 
 are a Law, and executed without cfelay, 
 furroünded with füch a number of Cour- 
 tiers, addifred to their Pleafures and ail 
 manner of Luxury, fo modeiate in his 
 perfon, and fo great a Mafter of his paf- 
 fions, as this Monarch. He is naturally 
 of a Colerick Difpofition, notwithftand- 
 ing which, it lias been obferved upon ma- 
 ny Occafions, both in refpefr of 'publicfe 
 or private Affaifs, that he fo abfoîutely 
 çontrouls his Anger, as fcarce ever to pu- 
 nifh an ili Afrion immediatçly , but ge- 
 nerally delays it to another time, fome- 
 times for Weeks and Months ; looking 
 upon this as the moft proper means to 
 niake punifhment beat a due proportion 
 to the Fauit committed, and confequent- 
 ly ro maintairi a good Order in the State. 
 
 Of this we obferved a moft mémora- 
 ble Inftance about ftx years ago. The 
 Empereur happening to fall dangerouily 
 ili in one of his progreiles , which hé 
 made in the Mountainous parts of TartarJ 
 toir unt, according to his_ Cuftom ; he 
 fçnt Poli for his Son, vvho was declared 
 ; . ' his 
 
niMjtury -tf CANGHY, 
 
 his Succeffour. Some of the young Prince ‘s 
 iQomefticks, having conceiv'd fcme hopes 
 of feeing their young Malier furmounted 
 upon the Throne, had not only fhew’d 
 their Satisfa&ion in their Countenancès, 
 butallb had let flip fome Words, which 
 having reach’d the Emperour's Ears, irn- 
 raediately afrer his firft Recovery , he 
 was extreamiy vex’d at their Indifcretion ; 
 but confidet'ing that at this Junfture of 
 time, it would turn to the no fmall pré- 
 judice of his Health, if he ilaould give 
 vent to his Anger \ he malier ’d his paffion, 
 and deiay ’d _ their pu ni Aiment to a more 
 uaidnable Time. After he had pretty well 
 recoveréd his former Strength, he asked 
 his Pbjficians, whetber wichout any Dan- 
 ger to his Health, he might difeharge a 
 îittie Choler, which had opprefted him for 
 fome time ? And his PhjJîciam having 
 given their Confent, he ordered them to 
 be foundly Baftonadeci, beginning with 
 the For (ter- Father of the Frince, ’who 
 was then his Governour ; and fome of the 
 Chief Eunuchs of his Chamber , he ba- 
 niflied to the utmoft ConHnes of Tartarj. 
 Butitought to be obferved hère, that a 
 good Baftonade or Whipping, is an ex- 
 tcaordinary Punifhment in China , ànd 
 fome other Eafiern-Parti , which do not 
 . léave behind them any Scain of Infamy, 
 asitiswith us in Europe ; nothing .being 
 ipaore: frequent! y to be leen, than, that 
 the Emperour's Servants, after they hâve 
 feeen thus ChaftKed, are put in their fov- 
 
7 * 
 
 prefent Empereur of China. 
 
 srfer Stations again, and are admitted a- 
 ■gain even into the Emperour ’s prefence, 
 who looks upon them never the w'orfe for 
 this Reafon, if they make an Amends for 
 their paft ' Mifdemeanour by their future 
 Good behaViour. 
 
 The prefent Emperour of China, is r.o 
 lefs Mafter of his other, than of this Paf- 
 fion, and efpecially of that which is fo 
 prédominant in moft Courts of the 4Jia^ 
 tick^ Princes, and which at ail times hâve 
 been fo far fioaa being confidered in China 
 as a Vice, tHat it has rather been autho- 
 rifed by Cuftoro. Within the Paliace are 
 entertained great Numbers of young 
 Maids, chofen out of the Faireft of the 
 whole Empire, to be at the Difpbfal of 
 their Prince ; And it is an antient Cuftom 
 among the Tartars , not to marry any of 
 their Daughters, but what has been hrft 
 prefented to the Emperour, who, with- 
 out any further formality , may retain 
 which he pleafes of them, for his own 
 ùfe; which is, befides this, look ’d upon 
 by their Kindred as a ftngular Plonour 
 done to their Family. 
 
 It is to thefe moft dangerous Cuftoms, 
 which hâve proved the ruine of fo many 
 Emperoursf the Chinefes may chiefiy at- 
 tribute thelè many Révolutions, which 
 hâve happened in theirAwpVr, their Princes 
 being thereby enticed to abandon them- 
 •ïelves altogether to Voluptuoufnefs, and 
 whilft they pafs’d the greateft partof their 
 time air.ong their Concubines, leave the 
 • whole 
 
The Hijiory ôf CANG-HT, 
 
 whole Management o F publick Affairs tp 
 fheir Emuchs and other Favourites. 
 
 But the Empereur, who at this time 
 fits upon the Ckînefe Tkrone, is fo far 
 from indulging himfelf in thefe Pleafures, 
 îhat .on .the contrary, he avoids even the 
 feaft Opportunités , and takes_ ail the 
 Précautions he can to rentier himfelf p.ioof 
 againft ail thefe Temptations. 
 
 About fome years ago in one of his 
 Progreffes into the Province of Ncinking \ , 
 they prefepted hira, according to Cuftom, 
 with feven of the Handfoanft Maids of 
 rhe whole Province ; but he was fo far 
 frotn accepting of the.m, that he would 
 not fo much as look upon them. Sonie of 
 his Courtiers/ who had free accefs to his 
 Ferfon, having abufed this Liberty, by 
 endeavouring to entice him to Voluptu- 
 oufnefs, they were nèver after look’d up- 
 on with a good eye by this Prince, who 
 fbund feveral ways to chaftife them after- 
 wards for their Misbehaviour , to make 
 them fenfible how little Satisfaction he 
 took , and how much he ftood upon his 
 Guard againft thefe Affinements, which 
 ferve only to debale a Génerous Soûl. 
 
 To renaove ail Opportunies of being 
 drawh into the Snare of thofe pernicious 
 Pieafures, heemploys his Time in tire more 
 Noble exercifes ; both of his Mind and 
 Spirit 5 fuch as Travelling, Hunting, Fiftr- 
 ing, H orft- Races, Exercifes of Arms, 
 Reading-of Bocks, and the Study cf ufe- 
 fui Sciences. ’ It is for this Reafon he ne- 
 lights 
 
prcfcnt Empeycir çf China. 77 
 
 lights fo much in taking long Joumeys, 
 where the VVoraen never folîow the Court; 
 and, befides that, he allots himfelfevery 
 Yeâr, at leail three Months for Hunting 
 amongft the-Mountalnous partsof Tarturjl 
 where even Neceffity it felf, oblige the 
 whole Court to abate much of thefe Plea- 
 fures they are wont to enjoy in Chhia ; lie 
 frequently takes a Progrefs of 1 5 or 
 days, to the Impérial Toiiibs of his Fa-» 
 mily, where he fpends moft of his time Ira 
 Hunting. 
 
 When he is at Vebing, or at one of his 
 tvvo Country Seats near that City, heof- 
 ten fpeirds the greateft part of the Day 
 in Hunting. For thîs purpofe, he has a 
 very fine Park, about a Leagues diftance 
 fiorn Pékingj of a quadrangular Figure, 
 furrounded with a very high Wall> con- 
 taining abour fixteen Leagues in Circum- 
 ference , where great numbers of wiîd 
 Beafts and Foui are entertain'd for his 
 confiant Diverfion. And as he takes par- 
 ticular Delight in Hunting the Tyger, fo 
 he conftantly takes care to hâve fome 
 young ones bred up in a fma.ll Park behind 
 his Pallace, vvhich ferve him for his Di- 
 verfion when they are grown up. 
 
 For the famé reafon it is the Empereur, 
 delights extreamly in Fifhing , and ig , 
 well verfed in every thing belonging to it» 
 Sometimes yotr fhall fee him Fifhing ira' 
 die River of Tehlng , fometimes in the 
 Ponds belongining to the Gardons of his 
 Pallace, and his Côuntry Sears; fome- 
 times 
 
’ The H’ftjry of C A NTG-H'f, 
 
 ticnes he cafts a Net, at other times he 
 Fiîhes with the Angle ; We hâve often- 
 times receiv’d the honour of being pre- 
 fented with fome of the Fifh he catch ’d 
 with his own hands ; which is Iook’d.up- 
 on among the Chinefes, as a tnoft particu- 
 Iar mark of the Empe roufs Favour. 
 
 As for the Horle Races, thp' they are 
 not fo frequently praétifed, yèt once or 
 twice a year he keeps P ublick Horfe- Ra- 
 ces for his whole Court. Every one 
 of the Princes and Grandees do here pro- 
 duce their fîneft and Swifteft Runners in 
 their Stables. The Emperour likewife 
 puts in his own Horfes, and fets a confi- 
 derable Prize, to be carried by the Horle, 
 that firft cornes to the end of the Race. 
 The Tartars in general are great Admirers 
 of the Races, and Ride fometimes Races 
 of fix or feven Leagues long, without 
 taking breath, and with fo rauch eager- 
 nefs, that often Horfe and Man drops by 
 the way , notwithftanding which, therc 
 do not want others, who readily fupply 
 their places. 
 
 The Horfes commonly ufed among the 
 Tartars, no more than thôfe of the 
 Chinefes, don’t corne near our Eurofean 
 Horfes of-any Value, either for Ihape, or 
 Generofity and Spirit. But they hâve this 
 Advantage before moft of dur Horfes, 
 that they are kept with much lefs Trouble 
 and Charges ; and yec will endure more 
 Fatigues and ritn both longer and fwifter. 
 
prefent Emperour of China. 
 
 « We hâve told you before that thiâ 
 Grince is very aderoit in managing the Bow 
 and Fire-Iock, as weli as in o,ther Bodily 
 Exercifes ; and what wonder is it, if he 
 takes particular delight , to inftrud his 
 Sons in the famé exercifes, of yvhkh he 
 is fo great a Mafter liimfelf. 
 
 He is no iefs careful inkeeping his Troops 
 in continuai exercife; Four Months in the 
 year areappointedon purpofe for the exer- 
 çifing the Souldiers in ail forts of Mili- 
 tary A&ions ; to wit, two Months in the 
 Spring, and two in Autumn ; but efpecial- 
 ly.thofe quartered in and about ■ the City 
 of Eeking, of which one fifth part is drawn 
 éut into Field, to do tlieir exercifes every 
 day. Sometimes the Emperour takes a 
 review of them altogether , foraetimes 
 fome part of them in Perfon, where Pri- 
 zesare allôtted thofe who manage their 
 Arms with mot]: dexterity. When they 
 Shoot at the Mark, every Foot orHorie 
 Souldier, who Shoots with his Arrow with- 
 in the Circle receives a Reward of three 
 Shillings and Six-pence. 
 
 If but a private Centinal's place be va- 
 cant in the Emperour s Trcops, there are 
 many ready to offer their Service ; where- 
 as in Europe, our Officers cannot compleat 
 fometimes their Companies, but with a 
 great deal of Trouble ; the Emperour iays 
 his ftricl Commands upon his Officers, ai- 
 ways ro pickout thofe they find moftAccom-, 
 plifhed in managing their Arms, and other 
 Miiitarly exercifes, there being none to 
 
 7 ? 
 
So The Hiftory of. C ANG H Y, . 
 
 be admitted withouü having undergone 
 the Toil of it. Bue, when any place ei- 
 ther of a Coramon Soldier, or Mandarin 
 of his Guards, happëns to be vacant, the 
 Emperour takes effectuai Care himfelf, 
 t-hat his Ordersas to this point, may be 
 put in execution with the greateft exaét- 
 nefs imaginable. For, fo often as a va- 
 cant place is to be fupplied among thé 
 Troops of the Houfhold, thofe who cie- 
 fire to be admitted into it, are brought in- 
 to His Majeily's preience, who examines 
 îhem concerning luch Matters as belong to 
 theirfeveral Stations, and always gives 
 preferrence to thofe, whom he finds beft 
 Qualitied. 
 
 Theprefent never Emperour negletts any 
 thing which he judges may in the lealt 
 contribute to the Prefervation and Securi- 
 of the State. He was no fooner inltru- 
 &ed in what belong to the Cafting of 
 Cannons, as ufed in Europe, but he" caufed 
 a greac Quantity to be caft in Imitation of 
 them ; and many of his Subje&s fo be in- 
 ftru&ed in the Management of the Great 
 Artillery, as well for Cannoneering as 
 Bombardingof places» ■ He ordered a pro- 
 digious Quantity of Brafs Field-pieces to 
 be made, which a te portable upon a Horfe 
 or- Mule ; another Horfe being alloted to 
 each, for the Carriage and Ammunition 
 belonging to it, ali of his own Invent- 
 ing. 
 
 ici 
 
prefent Empereur of China; 
 
 In a Iaüe Battie fought- betvvixt his 
 Troops and thofe of the ‘TkrurUn Kn .g 
 of Elutb, it had been obferved, that the 
 Enerny by their Fire-Arms, had done the 
 greateil raifehief to his Forces ; thaï their 
 continuai Firing upon his Horfe , had 
 fpreed them buck out of their Lines, and 
 confequendy had prevented them from 
 pntting the Enemies Army to an entire 
 Rout ; ever lince, the Emperour bas taken 
 care to hâve part of his Troops, bue ef- 
 peciallythoie of his Houfhoid, to be ihftru- 
 cted as well jin the Management of the 
 Eire-lock, as of the Bo vv. 
 
 Wfnt leifure time this Prince has, is al- 
 together employed, either in dis Itnpr éve- 
 ntent of his Mind, or ufeful exevcife of 
 hisBody. For befides what is fpent m 
 Reading of the Chlnefe Books, and Earo- 
 çe.v/i Treatifes concerning many Arts ar.d 
 Sciences, after he has been fully inftru- 
 Red in the ufe of the Mathematical In- 
 itruments, nOtiiing is more frequent, for 
 fpme years lait paît, than to fee hhn ei- 
 ther at Pekjxg, or at his Country Seats, 
 nay even in his Progrelfes inco Tartarj, 
 to take the greateft Pleafure in the Worid 
 to make fouie Aftronomical or Geometfi- 
 cal Obfervations, by the help of thofê 
 Matbemacical Inilruments, which are car- 
 ried afterhim, wherever he goes. Some- 
 çirhes you vvould fee him to take the hight 
 of the Sun at Noon ; fometimes the Hour 
 and Minute with an Aftronomical Ring, 
 to inveiligate the élévation of the Pôle, 
 G At 
 
The Hiftory of CAN T G~HY, 
 
 At other times, youmightfind himmea- 
 furing the hight of fome Tower or Moun- 
 tain, or the Diftance of fome remarkable 
 Places. Oftentimes he would employ 
 himfelf in Calculating the length -of the 
 Shadow of a Stick at Noon of a certain 
 day. As the Obfervations made by the 
 Emperour, and tliofe of Father Gerbilloy , 
 who commonly attend ed him in his Pro- 
 grefles, and made his Obfervations at the 
 lame time with the Emperour, did gene- 
 raliy agréé very exattly with one another $ 
 fo the whole Court was over-joyed at it, 
 and there was fcarce any Prince> or Per- 
 fon of Quali ty, who were not defrous, 
 to hâve at Ieaft their Children inftru&ed 
 in tliofe Sciences, which they fo much ad- 
 mired ; but difpaifd of ever being able 
 to attain to the Knowledge of them them- 
 felves. 
 
 Afcer Father Fontenay and Father Vifde- 
 Ioh came to Pekjng, the Emperour had the 
 Curiofity to be inftructed 6y them con- 
 cerning the ufe of the Pendulnm , fitted 
 for Cœleftial Obfervations, and of the 
 Level, and fome other Inftruments, which 
 thefe Fathers prefented to the Emperour, 
 inimediately after their arrivai. They 
 were not iparing in their Labour, and 
 after they had explain’d to him many Cu- 
 rious Propofitions concerning feveral points 
 of Aftronomy ; they having likewife 
 mentioried to him two new Methods to 
 fînd out the Ecclipfes, of the Invention 
 of Mr. Cajjtni , and Mr. De- la-lire ; he 
 
prefent Emperour of China. 
 
 was fo extreamly taken with them, that 
 he would needs be informed concerning 
 thefe Methods, for which reafon he order- 
 ed thefe Fathers to draw up the neceflary 
 Figures for their Explication, 
 
 To give the moft ample demonftration 
 to the World that could be, how much 
 be delighted in ail thefe noble Exercifes, 
 he refôlved to re-eftablifh. the moft ufeful 
 Arts and Sciences in his Empire. That 
 ” which chiefly made him take this Reiolu- 
 tion, was his frequent Convention with 
 the European Authors, and efpecially thofe 
 of France , who hâve treated of thefe 
 Matters ; Add to this, that vye never let 
 flip the leaft opportunity that offered, for 
 to enlarge our ielves in our Difcourfes up- 
 on -the Subjeft of thofe feveral Famous 
 Academies, erefted ïnder his prefent Ma- 
 jefty’s Reign in Paris, for the Encourage- 
 ment of Arts and Sciences ; and to what 
 a degree of perfection the famé were 
 brought, under the prote&ion of Lewis 
 the Gréai , who by his Royal Munificence 
 had ' drawn thither the moft Eloquent 
 Mafters of ail kinds. 
 
 It was in Imitation of that famé Mo- 
 del, we had given Jiim of this Academy, 
 the prefent Em per oui* of China laid the . 
 Foundation of an Academy -of Paint ers, 
 of Engr avers, Carvers, and otberArtifts 
 in Brafs and Copper; for Clock- Works and 
 Mathematical Inftruments ; afligning them 
 certain Appartments about five Years ago 
 within the precincf of his own Pallace , 
 
TbeHtjlory °f CÀNG-OT, 
 
 give them ail due Encouragement," and 
 to create among them a kind of Emula- 
 tion, he ufed to fet them for Patterns 
 thofe pièces which were made in Europe, 
 and efpecially thofe made at Paru. And 
 as he is an excellent Judge both of tlie 
 Goodnefs and Beauty of ali Sorts of Cu- 
 rious Workmanfhip, he lias every day, if 
 he is at Pehing , or every other day, if at 
 one of his Country Boufes, at a certain 
 hour brought to him the feveral pièces of 
 thefe New Academnians. He takes a view 
 and examines every thing with ail Nicety 
 imaginable; finds fault with what is de- 
 fe&ive, and gives due praife to thofe that 
 deferve it ; and retains for his own ufe 
 what he finds as raoft exact and perfe£t. 
 He alfo beltows fome Publick Marks of 
 his Favour upcrn ail thofe Artifts, whom 
 he finds induftrioüs in improving their Na- 
 tural Talent, and paffionate for to bring 
 their Pièces to the ütmoft degvee of per- 
 fection; Some of whom he has elevated 
 to the Dignity of Mandarins , and has 
 caufed them to be invefted with thofe 
 Ceremonies and Titles which are the or- 
 dinary Marks of thefe Honours, the Em- 
 pereur vvàs pleafed to beftow upon them, 
 The prêtent Emperour of China, as abr- 
 sblute a Malter as he is, both of his Subjebts 
 and Paillons, would noc be icok’d upon 
 bythe Ch vie fe s, as an accompiiilf dMonareh, 
 if befides his many other great Qualifica- 
 tions , he had not alfo ' a particular 
 Rdpect and Tendernefs for his Kindred.’ 
 
 As 
 
frefevt Empereur of China. S$ 
 
 As the principal Diity in reference of thofe 
 that are nest of Kin, conhfts in that re- 
 fpeft which is due frem Childten to their 
 Parents, and in the tendernefs of Parents 
 to their Childten ; So this Prince has fig- 
 nalized himfelf in thefe two points, to the 
 higheft degree. 
 
 As to what relates to the firft of thefe 
 two Duties, which is confidered among 
 the Chine fes, as one. of the çpoit E/Iential 
 parts of Mûrality î the pfefênt Emperour 
 having been bereaved pf both of the Em- 
 perour his Pathèr, ahd the Emprefs Iris 
 Mother, in his very Infancy i the old Em- 
 prefs his Grand -roother, which furvived 
 them for a confiderable rime, was always 
 both in her life-time, and after her deafh, 
 the true Object of his filial Refpecl ; as the 
 Prince was the raoft perfeél Pattern ofDu- 
 tyfulnefs, that ever was heard of before, 
 even in China it felf. She was the only 
 perfon, that took care of his Education î 
 and it is incredible, with what Submifiion 
 he could receive her In trusions '; how he 
 nevér failed to attend her continually, and 
 what Inquiétudes might be.obferved in his 
 very Countenance, when at any time he 
 had notice given him, that fhe was never 
 fo Üttle out of Ordéi-j ûpon which occafi- ’ 
 on, he has fometlmes left ofif Hunting 
 immediately, and Rid three or fourfeore 
 Miles Poft,, to give her a Vifit. 
 
 But thofe that hâve been Eve witnefs 
 of what lie did at the time of Her Death, 
 will readily confefs that nothing could 
 G 3 fur- 
 
86 The Jrlijlory of CANG-HY* 
 
 pafs his Tendernefs towards hi» Grand - 
 Mother. For he caufed not only the 
 whole Court, but the whole Empire to 
 go into Mourning , for fifteen days toge- 
 ther, that the Dead Body of the Era- 
 prefs lay in State, there was a general fuf- 
 penfion of ail publick Afifairs ; Ail the 
 Grandees and Mandarins, even to the moft: 
 inconfiderabîe Officers were forced to at- 
 tend Day and Night in the lèverai Courts 
 of the Pallace, where , notwithftanding 
 the Rigour of the Winter Seafon, theÿ 
 were to bewail the Lofs of this Princefs, 
 
 1 He himfelf could not be perfwaded té 
 leavé the Coffin, and wouid fometimes 
 tarry in the famé Appartment where She 
 lay, whole Nights together without tak- 
 ing réffe '* He orderéd a moft magnificent 
 Funeral to be Ceîebrated, which coft lève- 
 rai jVIillions, to give die moft évident 
 proof of his refpeft to the deceafed Prin- 
 eeis, he foilowed the Corps in Perfon with 
 his whole Court, as far as to the Place of 
 Bui'ial, which was 25 Leagues r diftant 
 from Vehing. 
 
 But it îs to be obferved, that it vas 
 near four Months after her Death, before 
 the Célébration of thefe Funeral Rites ; 
 the Empereur having caufed the Corps to 
 be depofited in die mean while in one of 
 the Royal Paîlaces without the City, whi- 
 ther he foilowed it on foot, with ail his 
 Children, that were of a fit Age to w'alk. 
 
frefent Emperour of China. 87 
 
 During thefe four Months, it laid in 
 State there, the Emperour went conftant- 
 ly three or four times a Week, to pay his 
 Duty to theDeceafed, and to Déploré the 
 Lofs of this Incomparable Princefs. Near 
 the Sepulehre where her Body was Interr'd, 
 he built a very Magnifieent Pallace, fur- 
 rounded with à great many fait Lodgings, 
 for the . convenient Entertainment of a 
 Conhderable Number of Gentlemen , 
 whofe Bufînefs it was to do ail «imaginable 
 Honour to the Memory of this Princefs, 
 by their Lamentations, and other Cere- 
 monies ufed among the Chinefes upon fuch 
 like Occafions. 
 
 For whole three years after, neither he 
 nor his whole Court took any publick Di- 
 vertifements > fuch as Plays , Mufick , 
 Feafting, &c. During which time, he 
 toqk feveral Progrelfes everj year to the 
 Sepulchre, ( notwithftanding its diilance 
 from Peking ) where he fpent his time in 
 giving ali the imaginable Demcnllrations 
 of his Refpeft towards the deceafed Prin- 
 cefs ; and continues it llnce, after the ex- 
 piration of thefe three years alloted for 
 the Mourning. 
 
 I hâve it from very good hands, that 
 even to this day, when he happens to pafs 
 by the . Appartment where the Emprefs 
 died, he cannot forbearto IhedTears. 
 
 As the prefent Emperour of China , has 
 madehimfelf the Admiration of the Cbi- 
 > *efes , by thefe unparallelfd Examples of 
 Piety and Filial Refpeft to his II- 
 G 4 iuftrious 
 
Tèe Hiftory of CANG H Y, 
 
 îuftrious Grand- mother ; fo rhe Love he 
 irears to his Children, ar.d the Care he 
 tafaes without intermiflîon of their Edu- 
 cation, haye no leîs gain’d him the Hearts 
 of ail his Subjeéls. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1694, 
 ( when I left China ) he had fouitecn SoriSj 
 and a great raany Daughters living, by 
 feverai Wives, vvho for the moll -part are 
 Dignihed vvich theTitleof Queen ; it being 
 fufficientîy known, that Folygamy ismore 
 encourâged in China, than in any other 
 part of the World, becaufe the Chinefef 
 look upon a numerous Polleritv, as the 
 greateft Happinefs in this World. We 
 had the Honour of being acquainted with 
 ten of the fourteen Sons, vvho.were ail 
 very Handfom, and gave us great hopes 
 of their future Gréa tnefs, the otherfour 
 living, being as yet not.paft their Infancy. 
 
 » Thefe vvho hâve the Tuition of thefe 
 voung -Princes 5 are ehcfen from àmong 
 the moft Learned Doclors of the Jmperial 
 College; Their Govemours aie perfons 
 of the firll Rank, and of known Merir, 
 who hâve been brought up at the Empe- 
 rour s Court fiom their Infancy/ Betides 
 thefe, the Empereur himCèlf keeps a 
 ■.vatchful eye over ail the Avions of thefe 
 Princes, and takes particular Notice of 
 yvhac progrefs tliey make in their Studies î 
 fometimes lie perufes their Comprimons, 
 and makes them explain Corne Padages in 
 ïheir Bpoks in his prefence. 
 
p cfcvt Empcrour of China. 
 
 But, afcove aÛ, he makés ittheClùef 
 Care of his Life, to fee them inftru&ed 
 in every thing tending to Vertue and the 
 ufeful Exercifes of the Bcdy. No fooner 
 are they able to walk upright, but they 
 are taught to mount on Korfeback, to 
 ufe both the Bow and Fire-Arms ; which 
 Exçrcifes are their daily Récréations and 
 Divertifernents. He will not aîlow thera 
 to be too tenderly ufed, but on the con- 
 trary orders them to be accullomed in 
 their early Years to ail forts of Fatigues, 
 and even the courfeft fort of Méat. I 
 cannot forbear on this Occafion to give 
 you an Account of what I heard Father 
 Gerbillon relate one day upon this Subjeft, 
 about fix years ago, after his’ return 
 fiom a long Journey into Tœrtary^ whi- 
 ther he had attended the prefent Empe- 
 reur in one of his Progrefl’es. 
 
 The Enjperour had at that time taken 
 along with him only his Eldeft Son, and 
 two more, to wit, the Third and the 
 Fourth ; but after he had fpent fome days 
 in Hunting, he fent likewife for four more 
 of his Sons, the elddt of thofe being bpt 
 Tweivê, and the youngeft Nine years of 
 Age. Ail thefe yoüng Princes were for a 
 Momh together every day on Horfeback, 
 a Hunting among the Mountains of T*r- 
 tary , expofea to the -Beat of the Sun, 
 with their Bows in Hand, and Quivers at 
 their Backs, which they manager! with fo 
 much Dexterity, that theif pafs’d not a 
 day, but each of them kilfd fome wild 
 
► The Hiflary of GANG H Y, 
 
 Fo.wl or other; and the firft time they 
 v/ent abroad a Hunting, the youngeft 
 kiifd two Stags vvith his Arrow. 
 
 They were well vers'd in and fpoke both 
 the l’art arian and Chinefe Languages ; and 
 had already made l ue h progreis in the 
 Study of the Chinefe Chara&ers, that the 
 youngeft was corne to the Iaft Book of 
 the Mprals of : Confucius, having gone 
 through the three firft Parts before. The 
 Emperour wili not: fuffer them to be en- 
 couraged in the lëaft Fault they commit, 
 their Education being much more ftrict, 
 than what is commonly practifed in Europe-, 
 for which Reafon it is, that if thôfe, to 
 whofe Tuition they are committed , 
 fhould prétend to diffemble or hide any of 
 their Faults, they are fure to meet with 
 fevere Punifhment from the Emperour. 
 
 It is an antient Cuftom among the Chi- 
 , ■nefes, to dignifie the. Emperour s Children 
 wirh the Title of King, as foon as they 
 are arriv’d to the Age of Sixteen or Se- 
 -vepteen, at which time they are provided 
 with a Pallace, their own Servants,, and 
 a proportionable Revenue to fuftain their 
 tîrandeur ; .But, when I left China, the 
 prefent Emperour kept as yet his eldeft 
 Son with him in his own Pallace, without 
 any particular Attend ance, thongh he was 
 then near three and twenty years of Age, 
 was Married, and had lèverai Children. 
 The Emperour is extreamly fond of him, 
 and to give him his Due, he is a young 
 Prince very Delerving ; Jlandfom, Witty, 
 
9i 
 
 prcfcnî Empereur of China. 
 
 and endowed with many other Noble 
 Qualifications. 
 
 The Tribunal of Princes, and of Of- 
 ficers of the Crown, did fome years ago 
 piefent a Pétition to the Emperour, in fà- 
 vour of 'this Son, whom they defired to 
 be Dignified with the Title of King. 
 But the Emperour, without anfwering 
 their Pétition, kept him near him as be- 
 fore ; and we hâve feen him duly every 
 day go to that Appartment next adjoyning 
 to the Emperour ’s, which is the School of 
 the Princes, where they pafs the greateft 
 part of their Time in their Studies, and 
 other ufeful exercifes. His Majeily cornes 
 thither frequently to vifit them, and exa- 
 mines them what progrefs they make. 
 
 But above ail the reft, the Education 
 of his Second Son, who is declared Ho- 
 ang-Tai-Tfe, That is to fay, Hereditary 
 Prince, or SucceJlbur in the Empire, he 
 .being the Firil-born by the Emprefs his 
 firft Spoufe ; the Education, I fay, of this 
 Prince, feems to be the Chiefeft Care of 
 the prefent Emperour : There is a parti- 
 cular Tribunal appointed, whofe Bufineis 
 it is, to infiruft this Prince in every thing 
 that belongs to the Accomplilhment of fo 
 Great a Monarch, and to the Art of Go- 
 vernment ; The Emperour his Father, is 
 extreamly vigilant in every thing : that con- 
 cerns his Education, and takes an exact 
 Account front time to time of ali his 
 Aftions, being willing to qualifie him in 
 timq 
 
J?.3 The Hijhry of CAKGrKY, 
 
 t knc foi' the Management cf fo va fi; §n 
 Empire. And it muft be confefs'd thàt 
 this Prince, who now is of about twenty 
 îhree years of Age, is one of the Hand- 
 iorndl Perfons in the wfiole Court of Pe- 
 kjvg , and that he is- préférable to aîfo- 
 thers in refpeçl of his trianv Noble Qu ali - 
 ties ; there being not.one a mon g ail his 
 Domefticks, but what fpeak of him vrith 
 the greateft Eeyerence that can be, and 
 are fulxy perfwâded, 'that he will tred 
 in his FatliérV Fpotileps, and be pne day, 
 cne of the rnoflGiorious Monarchs, that 
 çyer afeended th eChinefe Throne 
 
 But, that .which" oblige? us to hâve a 
 moft particular Efteem for this Prince, is, - 
 that Seing by the Empeiour his Father 
 always infpired with favourable Senti- 
 ments in refpeft of the Chriftian Religion 
 and the Miiîïonaries, \ve hâve alvvays ob- 
 ferved in his Perfon an AffeSipn for us, 
 equal to that of the Empeiour. 
 
 It is about five year pafs’d, when the 
 Emperour having fhewn him the Obfefv 
 vatory of Pekwg, and ail the Mathenia- 
 tical ïnftruments there, he rold the Prince, 
 That the Empire of China tlood indebted 
 to Father Verbiefl, for thefe many Curibus 
 and Magnificent Engines, rnakirg a large 
 récital of the fervices done by tins Father, 
 and the other Milîloniries, to the iate Em- 
 pcfour his Father. 
 
 The famé day that I had my Audience 
 of leàve fiom the EmpeiQUr, this yoitng 
 Prince made me a Prêtent of one of his 
 own 
 
prejcnt Empereur ef China, 
 own Suits of Cloaths, which is Icok’d up-' 
 on as a moft paiticuIarFavour among theC hU 
 nefes ; and this Prefent was accompanied 
 with Words, fo obliging on his iide/ that 
 I hâve ail the reafort in the World to hâve 
 a high Elieem of. fo extraordinary a Per- 
 fon. Ic was, indeed, our opinion, that k 
 was by the Empereur 's means, I received 
 this Favour frein the Prince, -lie having 
 fent twice to nre a little before, to know, 
 Whedier Hoavg-Tai-Tfe made me any Pre- 
 fent ? 
 
 Not long after, this young Prince made 
 liketvife a Prefent of one. cf his own Suits 
 of Cloaths, ro Father Gerbillcr. , with a- 
 bout tiîty Piftols mit, accompanied with 
 this obliging Meiïage ; That being fenfibîe 
 that the Miiïionaries did not look for any 
 Recompenfe of this Nature, lie had fenc' 
 him this fmall Prefent, as a Token of his 
 Affeéfion, and of the Satisfa&ion lie took 
 in the Recovery of the Emperour his Fa- 
 ther, who ftood indebted for it, to ths 
 Caré of Fatlier Gerbillon. 
 
 The famé day that Father de Fontenay^ 
 and Father ViJdeloH came to Fehlng, the 
 Emperour being indifpofed, and keeping 
 hisBed, could not immediately admit them 
 to his Prefence , as he would certainly 
 hâve done, if he had been well i But Ho - 
 ( xng-Tai-Tfe having received a very advan- 
 tageous Characler of them before, was ve- 
 ry délirons to f e them, and received them 
 in a moil. obi iging mander. This Prince, 
 who is ver y well verfed in ail the Books ; 
 
The Hifiory of GÀNG'HY*, 
 
 and Sciences of the Chinefes ; having undçr- 
 ftood, that Father Vif de lou had made a con- 
 fiderable progrefs in thefe Studies, was ve- 
 ry deiïrous to be convinced of the Truth 
 of it. 
 
 For which purpofe, having fhew’d him 
 divers of the rnoft difficult Paifages in 
 fome of their Antient Books, which Fa- 
 ther Vifdelou explained with a great deal 
 of exa&nefs, he was over-joyed to fee, 
 that this Father was as well verfed in the 
 Chincfe Books , as moft of their o vvn 
 Doctors. But his fatisfa&ion;: encreafed 
 more and more, when having asked Fa- 
 ther Vifdelou , coneerning the Conformity • 
 betwixt the Doctrine of Confucius, and 
 the Antient Chinefes, and the Chriftian Re- 
 ligion ; he received for Anfwer from this 
 Father, T hat this Antient Do&rine wasfo 
 far from-being contradi&ory to the Chri- 
 stian Religion, that there was a great 
 uniformity betwixt both their Principies. 
 This Prince being thereby brought to the 
 knowledge of fome of th,e Fundamental 
 Points of the Chriftian Religion, feems 
 to be convinced, as well as tire Empereur 
 his Father, That the Antient tDoâriné 
 of the Chinefes was founded upon the 
 famé Principies with the Chriftian Re- 
 ligion. 
 
 I iay, as weft as the Empereur hts Fa- 
 ther ; For, it is to be obier ved, dut it is a 
 coniîderable time - ago, this Prince has 
 been. convinced tlf this Truth; of which 
 he iusgiven us very évident and Authen- •' 
 : tick 
 
prefext Empereur of China. 
 tickProofs upon lèverai occasions. And 
 itwas, without queftion, this Confid da- 
 tion, that prevailed with him, to aliow 
 the free EXercife of the Chriftian Religi- 
 on thionghout his Dominions, in • fo Pub- 
 lick and folemn a roanner, which I am 
 well fatisfied, he would never hâve done, 
 ( he being a very Politick Prince ) if he 
 had had the leaft doubt that the Fonda- 
 mental Maxims of the Chriftian Religion, 
 which fiowfrom the Lawof Nature ; and are 
 its perfection, were çontradiftory to thefe 
 of the Antient Chinefes 5 which if conlider- 1 
 ed in its genuine Purity, and according to 
 the Principles Eftablifned by the Antient 
 Sages of China, free from thofe additional 
 Corruptions inferted by their Modem Do- 
 £tors, is altogether the famé with the Law 
 of Nature, The Emperour was fully 
 convinced of thisTruth b y the reading of 
 that excellent Tre'atife of Father Rica 
 which Treats exprefly of this Matter ; and 
 being in fo high an efteem among ali the 
 Learned Mçn of China , did, as we men- 
 tioned before, at laft fall, into the Empe- 
 rouris hands ; which induced him to grant 
 us the free exercife of our Holy Religi- 
 on, which we would not as much as 
 hâve hoped for, without the particular 
 Alfiftance and Mercy of the Almighty. 
 
 The Title belonging this Great Prince 
 of being the Chief or Supream Head of 
 their Religion, and his exquifite Judgmenr, 
 improved to the higheft degree, by the 
 long Study of fo many Bcoks, efpecially 
 
 of 
 
The Hiflory of CANCt HY, 
 of themrelating to thofeAntientC^»^ Re- 
 ligion, muft neèds be a great Weight to 
 any unbyafs’d Perfon. 
 
 As to what relates to Hoang-Tai-Tfe, I 
 lwve it from unqueftionable hands, That 
 hnce my departure from teking, he treads 
 altog'ether in his Father ’s Footfteps, and 
 gives our Miiîionaries frequent Proofs of 
 hisEfteem and Affection both for their Re- 
 ligion and Perfons. Juft as I was ready 
 to Embarque in the Port of Cantore, in 
 order to my return into Transe, I rëcefv 
 ved a Letter from Father Gerbillon, in' 
 which he affured me, That in oneof the. 
 late Progreffes of the Emperour into Tar~. 
 tary, in which he attended, as he was aT 
 ways ufed to do, the young Prince had 
 heaped upon him ail the Maries of a. 
 particular Efteem and Affection, that could 
 be imagined. ' That fo ? being defîrous to 
 fee fome Tables for Calculations, compo- 
 fed by Father de Fontenay and Father Vif- 
 ielon , for the Emperour, he had inftruéled 
 him in thé ufe of them ; The Emperour 
 had been fo mudi taken with the ufeful» 
 nefs of them, that he had been the hrft 
 who had fhewn them to Hoang-Tai-Tfe , 
 who ever fince carried them in a Café, fafl- 
 ned to his Girdle. That one day, this 
 young Prince asked him concerning the 
 God of Heaven ; upon which occaûon/ 
 Father Gerbillon, having tnade a fhort Ha- 
 rangue upon this Subject in his prefence, 
 he heard him with a great deal of Satis- 
 faction and Attention ; and at another 
 time 
 
prefent Enperofir of China. 
 
 time engaged him to explain him half a 
 page out of rhe Holy Scriprure. 
 
 The Brothers of this Prince, but efpe- 
 cially the eldeft , who befides many other 
 rare Qualifies, has a moit excellent Natu- 
 ral Genius, treat us at ali limes vc y fa- 
 vourably, as weii as t!ie rwo üvvn Brothers 
 of the Emperour, who in this point ex- 
 ceed ail the other Princes of the B Toi. 
 
 This favourable Difpofirion of tire Im- 
 périal Family , and moft of the other 
 Princes towards the CHriftian Religion, 
 and thofe who pu blifh it in the Capital 
 City of Pekjng, has commnnicated icTeif* 
 to moft of the Perfons of the fuit Rank ; 
 and the Example of their Sovereign has 
 made fo deep an Impreüïon upon the reli , 
 even to the Aïandarins and other Officers 
 of the Court, that theve are few who 
 hâve not very favourable Sentiments of 
 
 But what is the moft furprizing, and 
 which has been look’d upon almoft like à 
 Piodigy to ail the World, is, that ihè 
 two Chief Mmifters of State, hâve given 
 us fuch publick and extraordinarv De- 
 fnonftrations of the Afte&io» and Efteem 
 they bare towards the GofpeL I mean 
 the Lord Go-fan, and the Lord Ming. 
 The hiftof thefe two is the famé Iiiuftrj- 
 .ous Perfon, who, for a conlîderable timé 
 h s been rhe Chief Supporter of the Chri- 
 ftianReligion and the Mifllonaries in Chi- 
 na , and who lignalized his Zeal of late in. 
 mvking ufe of pii his ïnterell and Rheto- 
 H rick 
 
9 S T-he Hiftory of C A N G - H Y, 
 
 rick to perfivade, firft the Emperour, and 
 aftefwarcls the Sovereign Court of Rites 
 ( the famé Tribunal which for this Age 
 lait paif , lias appear’d fo dreadful to the 
 Preache.s of the Gofpel ) to approve and 
 conform ihemfelves to the Emperour 's 
 Refolùtion of granting to us in molt So- 
 lemn and Authentick manner, the free 
 exercife of the Chnilian Religion. 
 
 YYhat relates to the Second, to wit, the 
 Lord Mi»g y tho’ it muft be confefs'd, that 
 hitherto, he lias not had the famé Oppor- 
 tunity to give us luch publick and Signal 
 Proofs of his Zeal and Protection,- as the 
 other illuftrioûs Lord: Neverthelefs, we 
 are entirely fatisfied as to his favourable 
 Difpofition towards our Caufe ; knowing 
 him to be ready upon ail Occafipns to do 
 \vlut Service he can, to promote the Ad- 
 vancement of our Religion, and to fécond 
 the Zeal of our Miifionaries \ for which 
 reafon, we onght to confider him as a 
 Main Pillar of the Chriftian Religion in 
 China ; and whofe AffeCtion does not in 
 ”i the leaft fall. fhort of that of the Lord 
 Go- fan. It it werç permitted me, to pub- 
 lifh certain Particularité relating to this 
 Subjeft, which I am vefy well acquainted 
 with, to my own Knowledge, I could re- 
 late fuch things as would give fufficient 
 Caufe for the whole Church to rejoyce at. 
 
 To put the lait Hand, as I ma y fay, the 
 finifhing Stroke to the Portraiture of this 
 Great Prince, I will make bold to fay, 
 That in fo many RefpeCts he refembles 
 Your 
 
prefènt Emperour of China. 
 YourMajefty, that like You, lie would be 
 oneof the moll Accompli Ihed Monarchs 
 that ever worç a Crown ; if hecould like- 
 wife attainto that Bappinefs fo refepibie 
 You in one point more, which raakes Your 
 Illultnous Reign appear with greater Lu- 
 lhe in the Chriltian World, I mean in thac 
 point which relates toour Religion. 
 
 To attain to this happinefs, the fîrefent 
 Emperour of China muft embrace the 
 Chriltian Faith, and profefs, it with the 
 famé Sincenty as You. It is next to an im‘- 
 polfibility for us to dive inro his Thoughts, 
 as to this point, or to guefs at what he 
 keeps.conceal’d in his Breaft. But if it 
 may be allowed us , to judge by thefe 
 things we hâve been eye-witnefs, of, bj 
 the knowledge he has of the Fundamên-. 
 tal parts of pur Religion, and the Elteem 
 he fhews, or at leaftféems to Ihew for it; 
 by tlie publick prote&ion he affords to the 
 Miffionaries , and the favourable Senti- 
 ments he lias cohcerning them and; ouf 
 Religion, infpired into his Suhjeéts, the 
 Chieieit Men of his Court,into the Princes, 
 hisSons, nay even into him, who is declâred 
 his Succeffour in the Empire ; We may, I 
 think, witliout prefumption conceive fouie 
 liopes, that this Great Prince is not far 
 fiom the Kingdom of Heaven, 
 
 What elfe can be conclu ded from thefé 
 many Faivouts, he heaps without inter- 
 milhon upon the Minifters of the Gofpel ? 
 Some .of thé niolt Rernarkable, I hâve 
 Had occahon to mention before. Suite 
 H 2 which. 
 
I CO The Htjhry of CANG-HY, 
 
 which, he has extended hisBounty fur- 
 ther than ever beforç todur Miflionariçs. 
 For he thotight k dot fulficient to allow 
 them Lodgings within the precinfl of his 
 Royal Pallace at Peking, but not long af- 
 ter my départ ure , generoully alfignod 
 them a very fpacicus piece ot Ground in 
 the famé place, for the Building of a rnpll- 
 Magnificent Church, to be dedjcated to. 
 the True God ; and they are nçt withodt 
 hopés thac he vvill be the Founder of it 
 himfelf. 
 
 If this Prince had the Happinefs to bê 
 aclually become a Member of our holy 
 Church, and had taken a rirm Refoluçion 
 to comiT.unicate the lame to ail his Sub- 
 jefts > it îs fcarce to be imagined, he could 
 gfe us more évident proofs of his Satis- 
 faction, than he has done of late, on the ac- 
 count of the happy progrefs of the Gofpel in 
 his Dominions, after the' publication of his 
 Edi&s in favour of the Chtiftian Religion? 
 Let us fee what the Hollaniers themfelves 
 fay upon this point, the foliowmg Rela- 
 tion being an Abftracl of fome Letters fent 
 from Macao and Pekjng, towards the end 
 of rhë Y ear 1695, which is inferttd in 
 their Milton cal Tranfa fiions, printed at the 
 7 Hague : The Empereur of China, Jince tbe 
 for th'j Publication of his EdiCl, whereby Freedom ts 
 Montli of granted to ail his S'ubjeEls , to embrace the 
 Chrijiian Faith, takfs fo much Satisfaction 
 to und'erjland the good Succefs the Mifflona- 
 ries meet with in ail Parts of the Empire, 
 irt Çonvèrting Grcat N ftmber s of the Chine- 
 
 fes^ • 
 
 Febr. 
 
frefent Empereur of China, 
 fes, that he bas given Permiffion to two Ita- 
 lian Jefuits, tvho were at bis Court, to go, 
 uni Preacb the Gofpel w the meft rémots Pro- 
 vinces undër bis Jurifdiclion ; the People 
 baving earneftly dejired, that fome Fathers 
 might be fent tbither, to Jbew tbem the way 
 to Heavsn. And tbe favourable Difpoftion 
 ef tbis Great Mosutrcb towards the Cbrifiian 
 Religion, rives tes ail imaginable Hopes , to 
 fee tbe whole Empire of China recense tbe 
 Cbrifiian Fait b ivithintbe nçxt Hundred 
 Tears. 
 
 Befid- s which, they çive us an Account 
 of the Converfïon of iîx or feven Perfbns 
 of Gréât Qpality and Authority among 
 the Chine fes ; which, as they fty, makes 
 fo great a Noife in the Court, thac thejr 
 daily Entertainment is there, concerning 
 tire Çhriftian Religion. They add, That 
 amo ng the common People, the Number 
 who are ready to receive ‘ Bip. 
 tiirn, is ; fo Great in fome Parts of tHe 
 Empiré, that the MilTipnaries who are 
 there, are nôt fiilîîcieht to Adminifler ic tu 
 ail that are defirqûs’of it. Tirât theEmperour 
 is ofeen heaid to fpeak very fàvoürablÿ 
 of our Religiou ; That he takes particular 
 Delight in the Converiîon of his Subjecls, 
 and fpeaks much in Commendation of the 
 Zeal the Miffionaries fhew in their Fun- 
 &ion. And that he has made more pref- 
 Ifing ïnftances to four Jefuits, thac are at 
 his Court, to fend without deiay for more 
 of their Fraternity, to aid and alfilt them 
 in their Miuifterial Funûion. 
 
 H 3 I 
 
 K>I 
 
ÏC2 
 
 The Ht (tory of CANG'ÜY, 
 
 I am fure this was one of the Principal 
 Inftruclions I received frcm this Prince, 
 at that time when I was ready to repafs 
 the Seas, as I hâve had the Honour tç> give 
 an Account of it to Your Majeily. He 
 defired then, tha.t above ali other things, 
 fuchof the French Jefuits as were then in 
 the Eaft-lKtliâs , might be forthwith fent 
 into China. ; but efpecially Father Tachard, 
 and Father le Comte. For, having under- 
 ilpoci that bothof them were 'ddign'd by 
 Tour Majefty, to go as Mifhonaries into 
 China, as well as we, he was extrèamly 
 oenrous to bave them at his Court. And 
 it was a eoniiderable time before, to wit ; 
 when he inÿitëd Father Fontenay and Fa- 
 ther ViJdelcH thither, That he had given 
 his exprefs Coromands, to induce Father' 
 le Comte ( for wJiom.hè had a moit parri- 
 cular Reipeft ) to corné to Pèking with 
 his Compa nions. . : 
 
 But as Providence would hâve it, when 
 I came to the Indies, I could notmeet 
 with any One Jefuit that was in â Condi- 
 tion te tmdertake Ao long a Voyage. ' I 
 îmde rherefere ail poflîble difpatch’tô re- 
 turn into France -, and, publiant to the 
 Initrucrions received fiom this Great 
 Prince, to addrefs myfeif î osr Maje- 
 ihy, to fplliçite for as many Miffibnaries 
 to be fent into China, as could be had ; 
 but efpecially of the famé Chara&cr with 
 thoio that are aîready at his Court, with 
 'vhom he is fatisfîed to the higheft degree. 
 
 For 
 
prefer.t Empereur of China. 
 
 For ï t is to be taken notice of, That the 
 Frcncb Jefuits, fuch as are weîl Vers’d i'n 
 ail Sorts of uTeful Arts and Sciences, are 
 the Perfons of - whôm this Prince màkës 
 the gréateft Account -, he perlifting in his 
 Refoiution, to make ufe of them, with 
 thofe employed there already, to ereft a 
 kiud of Academy within his Pallace, fub- 
 ordinate to Pour Royal Académy -, of 
 which he has conceiv’d fo liigh' an’Idea, 
 fince that Time we hâve iftiéwn to him, 
 and Tranlîated Tome of ourTreatifes in o 
 the T j,rt art An Language ; That his Refc- 
 lution is, that From thence, as the raoft 
 excellent and pure Spring-head, may be 
 taken moft of .thefe Memoirs, which are 
 to be the Subject Matter of thofe Works 
 hé intends to hâve Tranlîated in ta the 
 famé Language, elpecially thofe who treat 
 of cvur Arts and Sciences, which hé intends 
 t.o encourage with ail his Might through- 
 out ali his Dominions. 
 
 Great Advantage mufe needs acrue from 
 this Piojeél to the Chriftian Religion, when 
 thofe who are to be employed upon this 
 Subjëff, may be of great ufe nvpropagate- 
 ingtheFaith, by giving Alhltance roche 
 rell in their Mtniftenàl Function ; ir being 
 rarionally to be fuppofed, that by divide- 
 ing the fevëral Subjecls in hand betwixt 
 them, according to their différent Talents, 
 they may beilovy great part of their rime 
 ni pvomoting the Doctrine pf the Gcfpel, 
 which ôtight always to be their Piincipai 
 
Ï 04 r ^e Hifkory o/ÇANG-HY, 
 
 A'un. Befîdes which, they will hâve the 
 opportunity of obliging the World every 
 year with raany Curious and exaél Obfer- 
 vations and Reflétions . concerning divas 
 Matcers ; as Iikewife with the Tranflations 
 of the befl: Chineje and Tartarian Treati- 
 fes, which may not a little conduce to- 
 wards the perfecling of fome of our Arts 
 and Sciences. In return of which, ouf 
 Learned Men will not be backward in fur- 
 nifhing them with what new Diicoveriés 
 are rnade here, for the Benefit of the Chi- 
 nefes, which, as we hope, may be made ufe 
 of withgood Succefs ; to meet with the 
 eafier an Accefs among the Learned Men, 
 the Great Men of the Courr, the Princes 
 and Empereur himfelf ; and will furnifli 
 os with frequent opportunies to enlarge 
 our lelves upon the Fundamentals of our 
 Religion, which by degrees, thro’ the 
 Grâce of God, may difpofe them to the em- 
 bracing of theFaith, . ' ' 
 
 For it has been fufficiently prov’d by the 
 Expérience of this laft Age, That, fince 
 God has plaafed to make the Miflionaries 
 Inftrumental in intrcducing and planting 
 tlie Chriftian Relgion in China , of ail 
 other natutal Means nothing hascontribur- 
 ed fo much, to the accompllifhment of this 
 Great W prk, than their knowledge of ail 
 uftful Sciences , froin whence we may ra- 
 nonaüy infer, that evèn tothisday, he 
 v/ould hâve us hâve recourfè to the lamç 
 1-i/ , •. Methods, 
 
pt efcœt T uperour of China. 10 £ 
 
 Methods, to root out Paganifm in this 
 Empire. 
 
 It lus been a general Obfervation, That 
 the Chinefes, whofe Genius is much elë- 
 vated above ail other Pagan Nations, and 
 who confequently are îooner brought to 
 underftand and follow the Di&ates of 
 right Reafon, are commonly fooner pre- 
 vail’d upon than the reft, to be inftruéted 
 in the fundamental Principles of the 
 Chriftian Religion, and to yield to the 
 Truth of the Gofpel ; provided matters 
 be made perfpicuous to them, and in a 
 Metiiod agreeable to their Genius by fuch 
 perfons, as hâve bef.re deferved their E- 
 neem, and acquired a great Authôrity â- 
 mong them, by their Ability and an ex- 
 emplary Life ; God Almighty, who upon 
 thefe Occafions, is always very Bountifiil 
 in fhewing hisMercy, and regulating the 
 inward Motionsof hearts, having extend- 
 ed his Mercy in a peculiar^nanner to the 
 Chinefes, fo, that by the affluence of hjis 
 Spirit, many of the ihoft Learned among 
 them hâve acknowle'dged their Error in 
 their milbaken Wifdom , and fubmitted 
 with ail Humility to the Docbrine of thé 
 Gofpel. 
 
 Ail this duly confidered, who can rea~ 
 fonably doubt, but, that, when by Go'd's 
 fingular Infpiration You refol ved fome 
 Years ago, to fend fome French Jefuitsih- 
 to China, to be empioyed in the Conver- 
 fion of the Infidels^ it was by the farne 
 ; Motive 
 
loô The Hijlory of CANG-HY, 
 
 Motive that You gave thêta Tour Inftru- 
 ftions concerning the Improvement of 
 Arts and Sciences ? And that Providence 
 having been pleafed to fécond Your Great 
 and Holy Intentions, has raifed fuch a fa- 
 voorable Difpofitioa in the Kearts of the 
 Cbinefes , and of the Emperour . of China 
 himfelf towards thefe Miffionaries , that 
 this Prince has thought it convenient to 
 Sollicite Your Majelty, for a far greater 
 Number of them. 
 
 What is it we may r.ot hope. for from 
 the happy Effefts of Your Hcroick Zeal, 
 to which You put no Bounds, for the good 
 of God s Caufe ? If we may présumé to 
 prefageof the future by what is pais 'd, efpe- 
 cially in refpeft of what Your Majeily has 
 been pleafed to do of late Years in la- 
 vbur of the Millions _ into the Eaftèrn 
 Countries, into Ethopia and the bidies ; 
 only upon a bare Profpeft of introduçing 
 our Religion *among thefe Pagans } we 
 may promife our felves ail the hopesfor 
 Succels from thofe fent into China, which 
 al one are more valuable than ail the reil 
 together, becaufe they are likdy to bring 
 a greater Niimber of Infidels to the Church, 
 than may be expedred from ail the other 
 > Parts of . the World, p:ovided there were 
 
 a proportionable Number of Minilïers to 
 the Multitude of thofe who fhew a great- 
 er wilhngnefs to be inftruded, fent into 
 thofe parts. 
 
 The 
 
prcfent Empereur of China. 
 
 The prefent Emperour of China s Boun- 
 ty in granting free Liberty to ail his Sub- 
 ] ects to embrace the Catholick Faith, is 
 alone a fufficient Motive to induce us to 
 live in hopes,.that \ve may fee that valfc 
 Empire cf China, entirely reduced under 
 rhe Obedience of Ghrift. But if this 
 Great Prince fhould lèad the way, and en- 
 courage his Subje&s by his own Example, 
 we hâve ail the reafon in the World 
 to hope, that we may fee this Great 
 work accomplifh’d under the Aufpicious 
 Reign of Your Majefty. 
 
 It muft be confefs’d, that without al- 
 moft a miraculous Providence of God, it 
 is not éafie to hcpe for the GônVerfion of 
 fo Great and Potent a Prince, who is a 
 Pagan. But let us cônfider pn the other 
 hand, the extraordinary Eftevm fee has 
 always fhéwn for, and the powérful Pro- 
 tection he affords to the Chrifiiân Religi- 
 on; Let us, ITay, confider that this Prince is 
 free from ail thefe Vices, which being 
 contrary to the Rules of our Religion, 
 proves f: equently the Main ftumbling- 
 block to Pagan Princes to embrace the 
 Faith of Chiift -, and that he has roade ail 
 thefe Moral Verrues, which are fo rarely 
 to be met with in a Pagan Prince his con- 
 fiant praétice ; ail thefe things cpnfidered 
 together, we may not without great rea- 
 fon prefame to hope, that the lame God 
 who has raifed fuch favourabîe Inclinations 
 towards our Religion in ‘the Keart of this 
 Piince, 
 
The Hijlary of C AXG-i i Y, 
 
 Fr>nce, may be ptevail’d upon to extend his 
 Boundlefs Mercy towards hitn, efpecially 
 if the Falthfuî, in their fervent Prayers to 
 him, do implore ,his Mercy in befulf of 
 this Prince and lais Subjedfs. 
 
 I fay, in behalf of this Prince and ail his x 
 Subjeéls; For, as this Emperour is invefted 
 with an abfolute Power o ver ail his Subje&s, 
 asheismoft Famous throughout ail the 
 Orient by reafon of his extraordinary Ge- 
 rius, Wifdom, Learning and uncommon 
 Probity j fo, we hâve ali the reafon in thé 
 World to believe, that, if he fhould Be 
 prevail'd upon to embrace the Chriftian 
 Religion, his Examples would be fulfici- 
 er.t to induce ail his Subjeéls rd tread in his 
 footfteps, who, for their numberf exéeeed 
 ail Nations in Enraye. And it is not 
 improbable, but that, confidering the wgh 
 Efteena thofe Nations bordering on Ch'im, 
 hâve conceiv’d 6f their extraordinary Wile- 
 dom, .and ho w much they are inclined to 
 folio w their Maxinas and Cuftotns, dûs 
 would be prevailing enough with many tb 
 be entirely . xeconciled ho our holy Reli- 
 gion. 
 
 The moft forcupate Oppbrtunity that 
 could be Wifh’d for, the moft advantage- 
 pus for che Eftablifhmènt of our Church, 
 and the moft Gîorious to Your M.ijefty, 
 who feems to be chofeu by Heaven, the hap- 
 py ïnftrumênt of advancing the i onour 
 of the Church, to Crown ali the Actions 
 
prefcht Fn.pcrotr ef China. 
 
 of Lewis the Gréa: vvith. this, the moft 
 Glonous of ail Tour Enterprizes. No- 
 thifig leis can be imagined to be a Recom- 
 penle bearing the leaft proportion to riiat 
 Heroick Zeal and Magnanimity, of which' 
 Vour Majefty has given fuch ample De- 
 pionftvations to ail the World within thefe 
 ten. Years laft paft, during. which, afrer 
 Yôu had protefted the Church, both by 
 the force of Your Arms, and Your unpa- 
 raîleird. Conduit, againft the Joynt-power 
 of Europe, You were, notvvithftanding ail 
 the Adyantages on \ our fide, neverthe- 
 lefs difpofed to offer Peace to Your Ene- 
 înies upon very advanrageous Terms en 
 tkeirfide, ouf of a G e net ou s Motive for the 
 Publick Good, and thé uriiverfal Benefir 
 of the Çhurch. 
 
 Amorig thofe Vovvs and Frayefs, w'hich 
 we fend without intermill'on up to FJea- 
 wen, for the Ccnverfiqn of the prefent 
 Emperour of China and afl his Subjefts, 
 vve are never foi getful to olfer our hearty 
 Thanks to God, for the Concluhon of the 
 laft Peace, which in ail probabuity Will 
 p*-ové more advantageous to China than Eu- 
 rope i t felf. For by there-eftablifhing a, free 
 Commerce, our Ships will not want Opr 
 portunity to carry every Year fome nevv 
 Miihonaries to the utmoft Parts of the 
 Eaft j fo that we may reafonably expect 
 to be Rejoyced with the moft agreeable 
 News of the Converfîon of many Thou- 
 fànd Chinefes, by the Afîillance ôf thefe 
 
 Fa- 
 
IIO 
 
 The Uijlory of CANG H F, 
 
 Fathers, who are üobe fent thither u rider 
 Your Mijeftyis Proteëlion, to labour for 
 the Encreafe of the Empire of JESUS 
 CHRIST. 
 
 ' I iive in hopes to hear fuddenly, that 
 fome more of oit Fraternity are to be 
 fent by Your Majefty, with the firll Ships 
 defign'd for China, where, I am fure, they. 
 will be at leaft as well received, as any 
 qther Nation. And I hope from Your 
 Majefty ’s Goodnefs, that I may be thought 
 Worthy to be one of their Company, to 
 return with ail polfible fpeed into that 
 Part of thë World, where the Sun has its 
 Rife. It fhall be my Chief aim, there to 
 fécond Your extraordinary Zeal in propa- 
 gating the Chriltian Religion among the 
 Inlidels, in tlic moft remotê Parts of the 
 World ; And, as a particular Acknow- 
 le'dgement of thefe Favoürs You hâve 
 been pleafed to heap upon me, I fhall not 
 negleît the leaft Opportunity of publifh- 
 ing, wherever I corne, Your Great A&ions; 
 but efpecially to give an exaft Account 
 of what I hâve feen, during my ftay 
 here, to the prefent Emperour of China } 
 who, of ail other Princes , takes the 
 greateft. Satisfa&ion ' in hearing of Your 
 Glorious Enterprizes, and is the moft 
 worthy of Your Elteem and Friend- 
 fhip. 
 
 To conclude, I will join my hearry 
 Prayers, with ail the Faithful Ckinefes , 
 who look upon Your Majefty as their 
 Cluef 
 
III 
 
 prefent Emperour of China. 
 
 Chief Supporter, for the Prefervationof 
 Your Royal Perfon and Family, as an un- 
 feigned Teftimony of the moltprofound 
 Refpecd and Dévotion, wherewith I pre- 
 fume to fubfcribe my felf. 
 
 Tour Afajeftys 
 
 Moft humble j mojl obe client, and 
 
 AFofi faithful Servant , 
 
 J. B O U V E T, of the 
 
 Society of J E SV S; 
 
 FINIS.