FATHER DIEGO DE PANTOIA
also have some knowledge in their Bookes) then the most followed and allowed Calculation among us, which treate of that matter, doe allow of : for they say, it is sixe thousand yeeres at the least. They say that they have continued Histories. But I leave this, because I have not well conferred the truth and foundation of the Chinish histories. At the least it is certaine, that they have knowledge of their matters, and certaine Kings within a little after the Flood, whensoever it was. They had many ancient Kings, which were verie good men, which it may bee were saved in the law of Nature, because the heroicall workes of Vertue, which they report of them were great, and there is no record that they worshipped Idols, but some, that they worshipped the Lord of Heaven and Earth. There were some that sought not to leave their lawfull Sonnes to bee their Heires, because they thought them not fit for Government, but choose the wisest and best man, that they could finde, and left the Kingdome unto him.
This Kingdome in old time was divided into many small Kingdomes, untill by little and little it was united. It is some foure hundred yeeres (as I said before) since a Tartar King possessed it whollie, and two hundred, since a Bonzo or Religious man of China recovered it. This Mahumetan Tartar King, left some tokens of himselfe in things that he did. Hee left in Nanquin, certaine Mathe- maticall instruments of Copper, the like whereof for goodnesse peradventure are not in all Europe, at least not better.
The Chinese Bonzo which expelled him out of the Kingdome, was a very valiant and wise man, and there bee many Histories of his wisedome, and sentencious sayings, and judgement in hard matters : and the manner and forme of Government, which hee ordayned in this Kingdome, which continueth inviolable, doth greatly declare the same. Hee made new Offices and gave new Names to all of them : An usuall thing when one house beginneth to Raigne, to change all, even the name of the
Moralitie made a King, and Nature made a Mandarine contrary to innumerable Scripture, &c.
Mathematicall Instruments.
The China Vindex.
New Lords, new Lawes.401
